《Whispers of the Damned》


 Prolog

    With every step I took between the hidden alleys on the outskirts of one of the small towns in the country of Mexico, I felt the presence of darkness that enveloped everything around me, something that crawled on my back, and it stopped just to wait for the right time to jerk my neck.


    The moonlight was blocked by dark clouds, leaving the forgotten streets drowned in menacing shadows. The night wind carried the scent of decay and mystery, hitting my face with the unwavering arrogance of darkness. The faint glow of the streetlights could only highlight a fraction of the all-epassing darkness. Making the silhouettes of worn-out buildings look even more eerie, like a prison for those trapped in this neighborhood.


    But amongst that menacing darkness lurks all sorts of dark activity. Whispered voices and forbidden offers echoed around every corner, creating an invisible yet pervasive vibe. I could sense that danger and mystery waited behind every corner, lurking patiently to hunt down anyone weak or unwary. But I was used to everything, so I pushed all that fear and darkness down to the very core of my being.


    I had seen ck and white because those were the only two colors life had shown me. Now, I was forced to live under its pressure without being able to feel the white.


    I stopped in front of the small red-brick building at the corner of this settlement and sighed when I saw the number of people visible through the cracked ss walls. I snorted sharply. I wouldn''t be going home tonight with endless customersing in because it was a friday night. I would go home tomorrow with pain in my back and legs.


    Again.


    I pushed the door, and the stifling heat and the loud and low voices of conversation immediately greeted me. Ranchera sounded beautiful. I saw Magnan onstage, shaking her body, covered only by a yellow bikini and ck jeans. Her long brown hair was down, tossing as she shook her head sexily. Her eyes leered at the men at the edge of the small stage, making them cheer immediately.


    My breath came out sharply. I shook my head and chose not to care about her. I started walking through the people, heading towards the back room to put my bag and jacket in one of the rooms there.


    "Peeps! You came too early." Joanna''s voice startled me.


    I tied my apron around my body and turned to her. "I''m bored at home, it would be better to spend some time fussing." I said.


    Joannaughed amusedly, "That''s why you should get a boyfriend, Cabrona! You can drown in a sea of orgasms every friday night."


    I red at her vulgar suggestion before snorting in exasperation. "Trust me, I''d rather drown in an actual ocean than that one, Perra." I said as I tied up my long hair.


    She rolled her eyes. "That''s why you''re still a virgin."


    "I don''t know if it''s apliment or a taunt." I chuckled and pulled her out of the room reserved for workers in this tiny pub. Oh, and not to forget, I locked this room because, like human nature... the white part is mainly eaten away by the darkness that rules their heads tomit crimes, and what happens here usually ends up taking the goods of the workers who live below the poverty line.


    I''m not actually on that line, but I make everyone here believe I am one. And I''m okay with losing a few hundred pesos, but I can''t risk what else is in my bag. It would get me kicked out of this town.


    "As always, you are so beautiful,o un ¨¢ngel. Give me a mezcal and two beers, cari?o." Jonas smiled as I arrived at the bar, doing my job. "Make it quick." He said again. Jonas was a handsome guy who I would have liked if it weren''t for his asshole nature.


    I snorted at him, tempted to tug on his thick mustache. I didn''t answer him. I just poured beer into two sses and then looked for the bottle of traditional mezcal made by Irina, who was the mother of the owner of this pub, Sergio Perez. I brought the tworge sses to Jonas. He looks at me with interest, and sometimes, it turns to lust. "You know, I lost my tennis match against Chico this afternoon. I lost the bet. He extorted a lot of my money." He pursed his nose. I tilted my head, looking at him tly. "If you can see the ball as well as you see my breasts, you''ll win." I smiled tly. "Leave me alone, I have to work."


    He just whistled happily before he stepped away. I faded my smile as I saw him sitting with his fellow jerks and I continued my work. I cleaned the bar counter, mixed a few drinks, cleaned the sses, and finished washing them as the other bartenders finished.


    I looked over at Magnan, who hade downstairs with a lot of money tucked into parts of her bra and pants. I looked at her as she approached me, giving me a metal symbol. She sat on the barstool opposite me and smiled, sweat dripping down her face.


    "Tired?"


    Magnan nodded. "Yes, they can''t stop asking for other things."


    I looked at her with pity welling up in my chest, but I handed her a mineral water bottle instead of advising her to find a better job.


    "Gracias," she said and gulped down the water.


    I went back to wiping the sses lined up in front of me.


    "Do you know if there are any new person visiting here?" she asked.


    I looked at her with furrowed brows. A new person... that meant a new person dealing with some punks or some high-profile criminal who controlled this city because there was no way a tourist would walk around. It was rare, and some ended up rotting on the side of the road with their hearts out.


    "That guy..." she ran her fingers over the bottle, her lips ying seductively as she said, "...he''s very handsome. Hot. Sexy."


    I snorted. "From another town?"


    Magnan shook her head, propping up her elbow. "I don''t think so. He seems to be from abroad, maybe he''s from U.S." Her eyes looked up. Daydreaming. "I saw him earlier when I was watching Chico and Jonas ying tennis at Diego''s house. He was walking through the house with Antonio."


    Antonio Garcia.. was the son of Carlos Garcia, a wealthy upper-ss man in this town. They were dangerous people. "If he''s friends with the Garcia family, then he''s a dangerous person," "But he''s so hot,"


    I could almost hear the sigh in her voice. I shook my head at her. "Get cleaned up and go home."


    "It''s only ten o''clock, Danie. I''ll clean myself up now and start again at midnight."


    I looked at her with dislike. "You''re already tired."


    "I''m not," she licks her lips at me. "I''m going to dance naked when the new guy shows up and take him with me."


    "At least you and him aren''t sleeping in our bedroom or living room. That would be troublesome for me."


    "Wind down, Amor." She lowered her right hand in a y motion, then left my presence towards the back room with the money still on her.


    ***


    It was already fifteen minutes past twelve at night, and Magnan was already do the dancing snake in her transparent white bikini and skirt that allowed everyone to almost see her ass. More people were already here so we had to grab another seat from the storage room upstairs. A few eagle-eyed fools had already filled the periphery of the small stage to get a closer look at Magnan. If possible, to touch her.


    I always protested about that to Magnan. I just wanted her to sing without having to dance erotically and not to wee all those dirty old men''s hands. But she always had an excuse. She made many excuses about how she liked to be touched and how they would be disappointed that she had turned them down.


    Plus, Sergio wanted something inviting. And most types of men in this small town are ''manwhores'' and jerks. Well, that''s why this pub is always crowded.


    I wiped thest ss and poured the beer into the big ss at the big tattooed man, one of the loyal customers. He looked at me with a tilt of his head. "Am I drunk or are you getting more beautiful every day, more than Magnan?" "Pay your debt to Sergio, and you''ll see," I replied sarcastically.


    "Ouch," he said and then he was out of my sight in a sh every time I mentioned the debt he owed this pub.


    "So crowded," Joanna purred in annoyance. She stood next to me after cing the ss she had washed on the table. "Piero barely had another chair to bring in."


    "Maybe we should put up a closing sign or a warning that they should bring their own chairs," I said.


    "Might as well close it, I''ll tell-" Her words stopped just as the door to the pub opened.


    Three men walked in, and my eyes and her looked at the three men.


    Actually, only on one man.


    He was such a contrast from everyone here from all the men I''d ever met. The man had ck hair cut short with bangs that swept gracefully over his forehead. Every strand of his hair looked messy, creating the illusion of all the devil in every woman''s wet dreams. He was handsome in a rugged way, even with just a short ck t-shirt and jeans covering his athletic body.


    My heart fluttered. Somehow, it was like I had just seen a handsome man. I did. Often. All my older brothers are handsome, all my friends in Colombia are handsome, all my cousins are handsome, too. All the men around me were good- looking, but this one... seemed to have a special maism for my core that I had previously driven a nail through the bottom so that nothing could shake it.


    A very handsome man with an athletic body, ck hair and a gaze as sharp as an eagle, who looks like a god in Greek mythology.


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    Sexy and handsome... mesmerizing- that seems to be my weakness.


    I blinked and continued, wiping my desk and taking my eyes off him.


    "I think the second option is better," Joanna murmured to me. I turned to her, who seemed to be looking in the same direction as me. "You.. you saw him too, right?"


    "What?" I furrowed my brow, putting on my ''unaffected'' mask.


    "The guy who just came in."


    I nodded, "Yeah, why?" I blinked at her.


    Joanna snorted, bit her lip, and brought her face closer to mine. "He''s so hot, you know!"


    "I know. I almost saw your drool from here," I teased her. She quickly wiped her lips with her arm. "You act like you''ve never seen a handsome man," I quipped to her, but why did I feel it suited me better? And, now I''m willing to bet that it affected me more than it affected Joanna. Shit, what''s going on? I''ve never been irrational. It''s just about a handsome guy.. why do I even have to overreact like this?


    "It''s because he''s so...sexy."


    Bingo. She was right.


    I didn''t answer him because my focus was diverted when Xavier brought a chair across the bar right before me. "What''s this for?"


    "There''s another visitor, and we''re out of seats."


    "But why does he have to sit in front of me?" I asked with my heart pounding. Anticipation overcame me.


    "He wanted to sit here," Xavier replied, shrugging.


    I raised an eyebrow and opened my mouth, but someone had already approached us. I looked up at him, and I''m sure Joanna was already gaping in dripping saliva. My heart fluttered as I stared at the man. The man who had just walked in took my breath away instantly. I tried calming myself down and wearing my ''don''t care'' mask. The sexy man sat in the chair Xavier had put him in earlier. He nodded at Xavier and gave a ''thank you'' smile.


    Xavier''s gaze returned to Joanna. "You have a lot of things to do," he said.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Joanna snapped out of her reverie when she looked at him. "Okay," she approached me. "Ask for his number, you have to give it to me."


    I chuckled. "Okay." I gave her a thumbs up. And then I looked at him, that guy... that handsome one. Pulling my t smile, I spoke. "Is there anything I can help you with?"


    He looked at me and paused for a few seconds intensely. His eyes were green... very green, like the Tongass forest in ska. Like my house in Madelin, which is surrounded by a green pine forestndscape, which is ridiculous... but everything looks mesmerizing when I look at him this close. And I was already struggling to hold back the tremors in my heart. He was making it even harder with his closeness. "One beer."


    I nodded slowly, not saying anything else, as I poured the beer into arge ss and ced it in front of him. I swallowed and wiped the freshly washed ss Joanna had given to me. I was still focused on that for almost two minutes. I kept looking down without wanting to see him, but I could feel his intense gaze on my face.


    It was piercing like a slippery, sharp needle.


    "Is this pub always crowded?" his heavy voice, almost a lover''s sigh, made me look up. He was speaking Spanish with an ent I couldn''t ce. But I guessed he wasn''t from the US, Mexico, or any part of the Americas.


    I swallowed before answering, "No. Only on week nights, and holidays." I replied. "Where are you from?" I asked.


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    He raised an eyebrow with a look like, ''are you seriously asking me that?''.


    I shook my head. "I''m sorry. It''s just that this is a small town and we almost know everyone. You.. you''re certainly not from anywhere in this town or any town in Mexico. Your ent says something different." The corners of his lips tugged upward. "Italy,"


    I nodded.


    "Ever been to Italy?"


    "Yes-no. I mean no." I answered immediately with awkwardness and nervousness that almost made my tongue uncontroble. "It''s so far away. I mean... why are you here?"


    "Business." He smiled faintly, seemingly interested in the conversation. His face looked at me deeply before asking. "What''s your name?"


    "Danie. You?"


    "Danzel."


    I nodded and smiled slightly, not knowing what else to say or ask, but his gaze still lingered on my face.


    "Danie," my name hummed against his lips.


    I almost fainted at that.


    "Gosh, you''re so beautiful."


    I could hear the whisper. I looked up at him in surprise. He still looked at me with a deep green gaze while drinking his beer.


    The biceps on his arms were moving interestingly. "What time do you get home, Danie?"


    "It''s random. But we close in... almost thirty minutes."


    "Ah.. that''s a pity. I should havee earlier."


    I bit my lower lip. "Yeah, that''s too bad." I whispered.


    "Do you have time after this?"


    "No," I shook my head, answering quickly... too quickly. "I''m going straight home and go to bed."


    "Can you apany me to... I don''t know where it is but it''s the Rodrigues hotel? I guess." He replied.


    I blinked at him with my heart urgently wanting to burst out. "Yes, sure."


    "And apany me?" he asked with a deep gaze. He wasn''t one for small talk. "Because I''m alone, and you seem to be quite friendly."


    I knew I was hypnotized when I said, "Yes."


    And, I was like fully hypnotized when I let him take me to Rodrguez''s hotel, where all the darkness was, and touch me with his hot twist that set me on fire.


    Until he took my first.


    I came to my senses as the heat from the sun scorched my skin, waking up alone in that hotel. Completely alone. Until everything went wrong with my brother in front of me, pointing a gun at my head. Until it became a nightmare that I knew would haunt me.

 I

    Five yearster.


    Mondays are hell for many people, and I''m definitely one of them. Although I don''t have a nine-to-five job, Mondays still bother me. It doesn''t matter if it''s the trend or just because I''m getting older andzier.


    My eyes were still sticky when Joanna yelled in my room. It was for no reason. Just because she wanted to disturb my sound sleep. "?MALDITA ZORRA! ?DESPIERTA!" Bitch! Wake up.


    After almost seven years of living with her, I should have gotten used to this. No doubt, I''m used to it. But, sometimes, I still felt annoyed by her random behavior and her madness, which sometimes annoyed me.


    I growled when the weight of her body fell on me. I was still sleeping on my stomach, and she was on top of me, and damn it, she was so heavy.


    "Jo! Fuck!" I cursed, changing my position, I pushed her all the way to the edge, and then there was the sound of her falling to the floor. I lifted my face from the pillow and looked at her. Iughed at her, who was screaming in pain. "You''re going to die." I dropped my face back onto the pillow and snorted in exasperation. "Mess with me again and you''ll know the consequences."


    "If only you hadn''t scheduled a meeting with Karem Masson, I wouldn''t be in this much trouble, you idiot."


    I opened my eyes again and took a harsh breath. "Fuck. Fuck," I said as I sat up in bed and stared at the digital clock on my nightstand. "Damn it, Joanna. Why didn''t you wake me up earlier?"


    "I did, Perra. You scolded me instead." She stood up while holding her ass.


    I snorted, got off my bed right away, grabbed my towel, and went into the bathroom after grabbing my best friend''s hair. Joanna yelled, and her quick steps followed me into the bathroom. I had already locked it, leaving her with a string of her spanish curses.


    One hourter, I''m sitting in a lobby chair in one of San Francisco''s skyscrapers in a cheap work suit I got at the dor store, but it''s so far from what I imagined, so much more excellent and so well-worn that I look like I''m wearing a million- dor outfit from a famous brand that my mom likes to buy.


    I snorted, staring at my phone which showed a lot of calls from my mother. There were twenty this morning, and I slept so well that I didn''t hear anything. But even if I didn''t sleep, I wouldn''t pick up her calls. I won''t until she stops her grumbling because she''s unhappy about me intending to work again.


    The slow steps heading towards me made me stare ahead. At the Colombian man so familiar to my eyes, I pressed my lips together as he approached me.


    "What are you doing here?" he asked with a thick face of dislike.


    I swallowed harshly. "To see Karem Masson. He is one of the employees of the propertypany in your building." I replied. "What for?" he asked.


    "He offered me to work as an IT developer at the hotel they were building in Los Angeles." I said quietly. "Thepany is Royal Ridge, by the way." The propertypany was quite famous in U.S, being the number one propertypany in America and Europe.


    "Why do they have an office in my building, then? Why don''t they just buy a bigger building and work here?" he asked in surprise. "I also know that their employees in Los Angeles are still working in rented buildings."


    "They just started construction in California." I said, as I quoted an article on one of the business websites on the Inte. "From what I know, the owner of Royal Ridge wants their own buildings, which is essentially the kind of he wants. That''s why, they''re working in a rented building first, and will move in once it''spleted."


    "They can wait for that at their headquarters in New York instead of moving employees here."


    "Their employees are looking for new people for thepany, and looking for employees to help develop Royal Ridge California. Like me."


    He frowned at me, displeased. "You can find another job."


    I snorted at him.


    Like all of the Rodriguez and their protectiveness of the women in our family, Damien Rodriguez gave me a quizzical look before sighing. He was no different from my father and my two other brothers, who were so protective and almost psycho, always detailed and vignt about everything around me. Plus, I was the only girl in our big family, so security around me was tight, so they made me stay in San Francisco, where Rodriguez was in charge, instead of in New York, or Chicago, or any other states in U.S.


    It annoyed me because whenever I went out, I could identally bump into Damien and his minions, or my father''s people while walking around. It was like a reminder that I couldn''t get my freedom back until I died after the events of five years ago.


    "If you need a job, you just need to ask me." Damien snorted with annoyance before he sat down beside me. Almost everyone who passed by in the lobby was staring at us. He pulled out the paper that was on myp and read it. "You don''t have to overdo it, Cabron. I can find my own job." I hissed at him. "Everyone''s staring. I''ll probably be the target of gossip from the warm wombdies who chasing you." I said with annoyance.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    "You have quite a lot of experience. I''m so surprised Papa let you get this far." He said, ignoring my babbling.


    I grabbed my paper. "That''s because I''m the most favored child." I snorted at him.


    He rolled his eyes at my words. "Just go home. You don''t have to do this. Los Angeles is too risky."


    "You said as long as I''m on the West Coast, everything will be fine."


    "Right, but Abraham is in Madelin for a few months. No one can take care of you."


    "Why did hee home?"


    "There''s a thing."


    There must have been some dangerous things that were none of my business. I held my tongue to ask what our eldest brother was up to. "I work virtually. Mr. Masson said that I may only visit Los Angeles asionally. Not that I''m going to move there." I replied. I didn''t want to be under Abraham''s heavy guard anyway because he was like our Papa on a harsher level. He would monopolize my miserable life.


    "That''s better." He said. "You can say my name or ourst name if you want things to go smoothly."


    "Sorry, but unlike those Rodriguez men who sell their names and looks, I choose to sell the knowledge in my brain," I said sarcastically.


    Damienughed. "That''s because you''re ugly."


    "But you all don''t have the wit and intelligence that I do." I smacked his arm, and he dodged withughter.


    It stopped when a woman in a tight red dress approached me while saying my name.


    "Danie Gomez?" she asked me.


    "It should be Rodriguez," I ignored Damien''s quiet mutterings.


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    I nodded and smiled at her. "Yes, Miss."


    "It is your turn, Miss Gomez. Mr. Masson is waiting for you in his office." She smiled at me. "Come, follow me."


    I nodded. "Thank you," I said, standing up and picking up my phone on the sofa. I followed her and looked back while pointing at the woman''s ass in front of me to Damien, who immediately shook his headughing. I gave him my middle finger before walking back to follow the sexy ass in front of me.


    She took me to the fourth floor where Karem Masson''s office was located. There are manypanies that rent a few floors in Damien''s building as their office, so they don''t have to bother with building their own building which is more expensive. I once counted that there were nearly twentypanies here.


    My brother''s building is veryrge, and is the biggest building in San Francisco. For this cleaning business, Damien is quite creativepared to our other siblings.


    I pulled a nervous smile as I walked into therge room. A man with a thick beard in a neat suit was sitting behind a desk, staring at hisptop before standing up and seeing using. He smiled kindly, and I returned the same smile before I approached. His hand extended first, and I awkwardly epted his handshake.


    "Karem Masson. Wee to Royal Ridge."


    I shake our handshake. "Danie Gomez. Nice to meet you, and d you invited me toe."


    "Nice to meet you too, Miss. Gomez." He released our handshake and invited me to sit down.


    I sat down, facing him while wringing my fingers. After all, this was my first time doing a real job interview. I''m usually a frencer, and don''t need anything other than a CV and some ideas. But this... this formal one, which was so awkward and made me nervous.


    "So can we start now?" asked Karem Masson.


    I nodded and smiled nervously.


    "No need to be nervous, Ms. Gomez. Just rx a little. I won''t ask you any weird questions. I just want to see your resume and bio."


    Oh, yeah, that''s a relief. "I''m sorry. It''s just that this is too formal. I''m not used to it." I chuckled softly. I pulled the thick folder from my arms and put it on the table.


    ***


    Itsted for an hour, went smoothly, and was as subtle as I wanted it to be. He didn''t ask strange questions or anything outside of work. He was polite and gentle with me. I''m starting to be able to like Royal Ridge now.


    I was sitting on the sofa when a notification appeared on my phone. I picked my phone from the folder and smiled slightly when I saw the message was from Jason, my boyfriend.


    From: Jason.


    Are you done yet? I''ve been waiting for you outside Rodrigo''s building. We could hang out for a while at a nearby beachside cafe while enjoying the sunset.


    To: Jason.


    I''m done, and that''s a good idea. I''m out now.


    I start to stand up and get out of there as quickly as possible before Damien gets cranky with me again, especially if he finds out that I''m going with Jason. He''d do anything to keep me from going with my boyfriend. "Where are you going, huh?" He appeared just as I was thinking. He had just finished talking to his employee, and he walked right up to me.


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    "I''ll take you home. We can have dinner for a while."


    "I already have ns with my friends."


    "You don''t have any friends."


    "I do," I replied angrily about how he was belittling me. Of course, I have friends, not many, but I do.


    "Who are your friends, or is that your bald-headed boyfriend?"


    "He''s not bald," I replied with annoyance. He was blind because he couldn''t see the thick hair on Jason''s head. "And yes, I''m going with him, so I can''t go home with you."


    "He''s bald, and wears a wig when he goes out with you." He said with an exasperated snort. "Besides, I''ve told you several times that you can''t be with him anymore, Princesa." "You should have given a clear reason other than your crazy assumptions about him!" I retorted. "I''m not in the mood to argue, but now I have to go."


    "He''s Italian," Damien hissed softly. "You know we don''t deal with Italians."


    "Not all Italians are mafia, est¨²pido," I replied.


    "You''re right, but he is a rich man."


    "He has everything the clean way. I''m sure his parents did, too." I snorted. "Get over it, I have to go now."


    "You know how it was thest time you were with an Italian guy."


    I froze andposed myself before I could answer. "Of all the people in the world, it''s unlikely to be the same," I said. "Let''s end this pointless debate. I have to go now."


    "It could be the same," he growled. "If something happens to you.."


    "Yes, yes, yes. I''ll call you." I cut him off before kissing his cheek and leaving him outside the lobby to walk towards the Porche parked in the courtyard.


    A handsome man in a blue shirt got out of it and smiled at me. I smiled broadly at him.


    Of all the Italian men in San Francisco, Jason Bernardi would not be one of the men to ever ruin my life.


    He never would.


    ***

 II

    "How was the interview?"


    I smiled at Jason as I separated the beef and chicken pieces on the tiny grill on the table. "Good. Mr. Karem Masson didn''t ask me any strange questions. He was very kind and focused on the point." I said. "You''re too extraordinary, that''s why. I''m sure he''ll ept you."


    I shrugged. "Let''s just pray." I smiled widely at him.


    The handsome Italian man in front of me smiled back at me broadly, like happiness wasn''t just mine but his, too.


    He was Jason Bernardi, my boyfriend of three years. We met when I was doing my postgraduate studies in Standford, and he became my senior. We met more often since we were involved in the same project with the same professor. He added attention and care to me in those moments, which made me like him. And when he confessed his feelings and asked me to be his girlfriend, I immediately epted, without a second thought, because he was my type. Very much my type. Probably also the type for many women.


    He was kind and considerate, never bossed me around, never used his masculine side to bully my feminine side, never scolded me when I did something wrong to him, maybe just a little annoyed, but I also respected him, and I would quickly correct my mistakes. He was never rude and not possessive. He was funny and a good listener to me. Of all the men who have approached me, he''s the best.


    And one thing that made me admire him was that he was a believer in no sex before marriage, and he never touched me deeply. The only touching we did was intimate kissing and holding hands. I was okay with that. Because I never thought about sex or any kind of physical intimacy, but I liked discussing the future more than just the physical.


    He was a gentleman to me, but unfortunately, he was hindered by my family. We have a solid opposition to Italians, even though they''re lovely. That''s because of something that happened to me five years ago.


    The time when the Italian mafia guy took my virginity and trapped me in a horrible maze. Yeah, even though I''ve been taught a valuable life lesson, I still chose another Italian guy to be my partner. I mean..e on.. among the many Italians, there''s no way they''re all mafia or bad guys, right? It would be ridiculous for me to think that way.


    And my family is ridiculous, but I understand them. It''s just because they''ve always been protective of me, they afraid that there''s always the possibility that some bad guy will finish me off. That''s probably because five years ago, and I was fine with all that protectiveness. At least they never crossed the line with me.


    "But I still want you toe into mypany," he said with a slight frown.


    I tilted my head, pondered momentarily, and shook my head slowly. "All my brothers would be in hysterics if I went to New York." I chuckled softly.


    "How can your family be so protective?"


    It was a question that I could never find an answer to. It wasn''t because there wasn''t one. It was because I was trying to cover up the truth that mighte out. I didn''t want to show anything about my family''s identity. It had to be hidden tightly until I was ready to discuss it.


    "Because I''m the only daughter." I swallowed, eating one piece of my cooked chicken.


    He frowned, "You''ve said it several times. But I think it''s overrated."


    Oh, oh. What if I told him that I was the son of Colombia''s number one mobster whose life was almost snuffed out in Mexico five years ago because of an Italian guy? And they forbade me from going to New York because it''s was a hotbed of Cosa Nostra? I''m sure he''ll run.


    Iughed dryly at his words. "New York was too hard for me. I''m the only daughter in my family, and none of our family is in that city. So, no one watches over me there. They''re all afraid of something happening to me." "But there''s me to look after you." Jason smiled softly.


    "They don''t even know I have a boyfriend," I chuckled softly as his smile faded. "They probably wouldn''t let me out of the house if they knew I had a boyfriend." It was another lie I told, but it didn''t take away from the fact that my family might take me back to Madelin if they knew my boyfriend was Italian. Fortunately, my grouchy brother Damien had a good side for his sister, and he unwillingly helped me cover Jason from them, even though he called Jason a ''bald man'' several times.


    "Though you''ll be fine there. So we don''t have to have a long-distance rtionship anymore." Jason said listlessly.


    "Even though I want to, but I can''t. I''m sorry." Yeah, I really want to. To see the wider world, who wouldn''t want to? But then again... my family would instead take me back to Madelin if I dared to ask to go to New York. Jason owns his IT servicespany, which he built after graduating from undergraduate school and grew even more when hepleted his postgraduate education. It''s all because he has business blood running through his veins, not just because of his tech savvy. He was born into an Italian family with rampant business. His father owned a very wealthy oilpany in Italy, whose ownership has now passed to his eldest brother, Zane Bernardi.


    I don''t know any of his family because he hasn''t introduced them to me, plus I can''t look them up on the inte. His familyes from the old money deeply rooted in the Italian economy. They are not an ordinary family. That''s why they are never highlighted in any media. Jason says that everyone in his family likes privacy. Stringent privacy, so their faces will never be in any media.


    I asked to see a picture of his family, but he only gave me a picture of him and his parents. There was no picture of his oldest brother, Zane Bernardi, and his sister, Illiza Bernardi, even though I was so curious about them. Jason said that he wanted it to be a surprise for me.


    So far, the rumors heard among the upper-ss families were only about how handsome Zane Bernardi was, surpassing Jason, and about how beautiful Princess Bernardi, the only daughter in their family, was that many upper-ss families wanted to make an arranged marriage with one of them. I''m so curious how beautiful they are that they can be hailed so loudly?


    But I''ll hold back. Jason said it would be a surprise, and hopefully, the surprise would really surprise me and not disappoint me if it turned out that who they hailed was not as beautiful as they said.


    "But you won''t miss this one." He said after chewing the cooked beef.


    I looked at him with interest.


    "There''s a small party, my parents'' wedding anniversary, in Los Angeles this weekend. I''ve already said that I''ll introduce you to them. So.. yeah, it''ll happen if you want toe."


    I stammered at the invitation. "What...? Do your parents know that..."


    "I''ve told them about you, and they''re excited to wee you to their event."


    My heart made a small leap. I blinked rapidly as my nervousness attacked me brutally. "I..." I sighed, trying to calm myself down. "Of course I want to."


    His smile brightened. "Excellent."


    I returned it with a big smile of my own. Who wouldn''t be happy when their lover introduces them in front of their family?


    It''s a man''s act to prove that he''s serious about his girlfriend. That meant Jason was serious about me, and I didn''t have to doubt his love for me.


    But tension crept into my mind at night.


    What if he asked me to introduce him to my family?


    That would be a big mess.


    >>>


    Butterflies yed in my stomach as Danzel approached, kissing my lips deeply and briefly before whispering, "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met."


    His smile was so beautiful, so gorgeous. Beautiful. Handsome.


    I was already touching his face, caressing it, but everything turned into an ugly darkness.


    In an instant, it was like I had jumped through time and space. I found myself sitting on the floor of my t.


    "Don''t mess with Garcia," Carlos Garcia''s voice whispered with creepy calmness in my ear. I winced as he tugged on my hair, making my head snap up to look at him. "All of you Colombians.... are snakes that should have been destroyed long ago," he continued.


    I sobbed, and my head hurt when he let go of my head so roughly, making my forehead hit the wooden floor.


    "Danie-"


    The sound of a gun going off rang out. I was still lying face down with blood flowing smoothly down my thighs and stomach. Pain nipped at all my nerves.


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    I looked up as the sound of falling rang out in front of me. I dragged myself up, my breathing out raggedly as I tried to get closer to to Magnan who was grimacing. Her teeth chattered, her body trembled violently, and her eyes widened at me. The pain and agony was there.


    I cried silently, my hands trying to reach out to her, touching her skin. Giving her whateverfort I could while waiting for help toe. "Magnan," I whispered.


    They had already left after shooting Magnan, the door to our small t still open, and I tried to summon my strength. Whatever I could to sit up, to stand up, to call for help... any help.


    "Danny," she said, breathing hard, tears in her eyes. Her hands reached for me. I grabbed her immediately, flinching when I felt her skin so cold as ice. "I''m sorry. I''m sorry." She continued.


    I shook my head, "Which part is injured? Which part did they shoot you in?" I asked, I tried to get up, but I couldn''t. My body was heavy, and I couldn''t move. I waspletely paralyzed. "My stomach." She replied.


    "Hold on," I growled strongly as I tried to raise my upper body. It took a lot of effort, and it hurt. "Hang on, Magnan. Please. You must be strong." I sobbed, pressing the blood on her stomach with one hand while my other hand grasped her


    arm.


    Her eyes were red while I bit my tongue hard, enduring the excruciating pain in my stomach and thighs.


    I couldn''t hold on. But she must. She must survive.


    She must live.


    "Magnan," I whispered.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    "You''re the best friend I''ve ever had, Danny. You''re the only person who doesn''t undervalue me." She chuckled through her pain. "Joanna is the same way. Both of you." Her voice was soft, halting. Her chest rose and fell deeply. "I can''t give you anything back."


    "And I want you to repay me with staying. Endure the pain, and you will heal, and we will leave this city. Me, you and Joanna." I shook my head at her pain and mine. But I couldn''t hold myself back any longer, Iy down again, lying on my side, and we faced each other.


    "I''m cold," she sobbed.


    "I can''t hug you, Magnan. I''m sorry." I couldn''t even bring myself to move anymore. My sobs were getting stronger. I pressed her stomach. "You''ll be fine. Help ising."


    She sobbed. Her lips were turning blue.


    "Where else did he shoot you?" I asked again. I looked hard at her body to see if there were any blood stains or anything else. There was. I saw a speck of blood on her ck t-shirt on her chest, midway down her breasts. I opened my mouth. My breath caught. "Oh God, Magnan." I released our grip, pressing against her chest.


    She shook her head. "It''s okay. It''s okay. It''s gonna be okay." She smiled. "You''re gonna be okay, Danie."


    "No..." I shook my head. Crying harder. "Magnan. Please."


    The sound of a car and many steps approached. Hell, Abraham takes so much time. We were almost out of time.


    "Danny..." Abraham''s voice was loud, calling out.


    I felt him approach and grab me. I shook my head, looking at Magnan''s pale face. "Help her first. Please. Help her." I cried loudly, but Magnan''s eyes were already empty. A single tear escaped her, and her mouth opened. Abraham pulled me gently into his arms. "Damien... help her. Please!!"


    Damien was about to carry Magnan''s body, but he stopped. His hands were around Magnan''s neck, his eyes widened to stare at Magnan, and then they drifted to me painedly.


    I shook my head, rebelling against Abraham''s hold on my body. I shouted. "Take her with you. Take her!"


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Princesa." Damien shook his head, looking at me in defeat.


    I looked at Magnan and screamed. Ignoring the pain in my legs and stomach.


    I screamed. Keep screaming. I struggled in my first brother''s arms as he carried me out of our cheap apartment, and my other brother carried Magnan''s lifeless body out.


    I keep screaming until my throat was dry.


    And I realized my life would never be the same again.


    ***


    Light greeted my closed eyes. I opened my eyes, my breathing in gasps. I red up at the ceiling of my room and then plopped down on my bed.


    "Danny..." Joanna sat on the edge of the bed.


    I inhaled greedily. So much to fill my lungs.


    "You''re screaming again. The nightmares are bothering you again." It wasn''t a question. It was a statement from her. "This is already the third time this month." She pondered, tilting her head. "Shouldn''t you be asking if I''m okay?"


    "You''re not okay, *Perra*." She sighed. "I already know." She picked up the ss on my tray and handed it to me. "Drink it."


    I took it and drank it down. She stood up and turned off the light, leaving a slight buttery glow from the nightlight I had stuck on the wall because I couldn''t sleep with the lights on. There was only that small light so it wouldn''t be too dark since I didn''t turn on the balcony lights.


    "Was my scream so loud this time?" I asked.


    "Not really. I heard you because I was still watching tv earlier, and you didn''t close your door tightly."


    I sighed and closed my eyes. Lie down again.


    "Can you sleep again? Are you sure?" she asked as she started to leave my room.


    "What time is it?"


    "Two o''clock at night." she replied.


    "I can''t sleep," I muttered irritably.


    "Pizza? Or ramen? Or just go out for a walk?"


    I looked at Joanna, who was looking at me casually, but there was a faint sadness behind it. She always worried about me, cared for me, and was always by my side when I was on my own dark side. I also did the same. It was a worthy reciprocity. I would always be by her side too. From her annoying nature, which often annoyed me, many other things always made mefortable being friends with her. She always understood my nightmares. She never asked what they were about, even though I always mentioned our other best friend''s name throughout my bad sleep. She never forced me to talk about the incident. She always waited until I was ready to tell her.


    I picked myself up, got off the bed, and stood up. "Pizza?"


    "Pizza." Joanna nodded.


    >>>

 III

    *Butterflies yed in my stomach as Danzel approached, kissing my lips deeply and briefly before whispering, "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met."


    His smile was so beautiful, so gorgeous. Beautiful. Handsome.


    I was already touching his face, caressing it, but everything turned into an ugly darkness.


    In an instant, it was like I had jumped through time and space. I found myself sitting on the floor of my t.


    "Don''t mess with Garcia," Carlos Garcia''s voice whispered with creepy calmness in my ear. I winced as he tugged on my hair, making my head snap up to look at him. "All of you Colombians.... are snakes that should have been destroyed long ago," he continued.


    I sobbed, and my head hurt when he let go of my head so roughly, making my forehead hit the wooden floor.


    "Danie-"


    The sound of a gun going off rang out. I was still lying face down with blood flowing smoothly down my thighs and stomach. Pain nipped at all my nerves.


    I looked up as the sound of falling rang out in front of me. I dragged myself up, my breathing out raggedly as I tried to get closer to to Magnan who was grimacing. Her teeth chattered, her body trembled violently, and her eyes widened at me. The pain and agony was there.


    I cried silently, my hands trying to reach out to her, touching her skin. Giving her whateverfort I could while waiting for help toe. "Magnan," I whispered.


    They had already left after shooting Magnan, the door to our small t still open, and I tried to summon my strength. Whatever I could to sit up, to stand up, to call for help... any help. "Danny," she said, breathing hard, tears in her eyes. Her hands reached for me. I grabbed her immediately, flinching when I felt her skin so cold as ice. "I''m sorry. I''m sorry." She continued.


    I shook my head, "Which part is injured? Which part did they shoot you in?" I asked, I tried to get up, but I couldn''t. My body was heavy, and I couldn''t move. I waspletely paralyzed. "My stomach." She replied.


    "Hold on," I growled strongly as I tried to raise my upper body. It took a lot of effort, and it hurt. "Hang on, Magnan. Please. You must be strong." I sobbed, pressing the blood on her stomach with one hand while my other hand grasped her


    arm.


    Her eyes were red while I bit my tongue hard, enduring the excruciating pain in my stomach and thighs.


    I couldn''t hold on. But she must. She must survive.


    She must live.


    "Magnan," I whispered.


    "You''re the best friend I''ve ever had, Danny. You''re the only person who doesn''t undervalue me." She chuckled through her pain. "Joanna is the same way. Both of you." Her voice was soft, halting. Her chest rose and fell deeply. "I can''t give you anything back."


    "And I want you to repay me with staying. Endure the pain, and you will heal, and we will leave this city. Me, you and Joanna." I shook my head at her pain and mine. But I couldn''t hold myself back any longer, Iy down again, lying on my side, and we faced each other.


    "I''m cold," she sobbed.


    "I can''t hug you, Magnan. I''m sorry." I couldn''t even bring myself to move anymore. My sobs were getting stronger. I pressed her stomach. "You''ll be fine. Help ising."


    She sobbed. Her lips were turning blue.


    "Where else did he shoot you?" I asked again. I looked hard at her body to see if there were any blood stains or anything else. There was. I saw a speck of blood on her ck t-shirt on her chest, midway down her breasts. I opened my mouth. My breath caught. "Oh God, Magnan." I released our grip, pressing against her chest.


    She shook her head. "It''s okay. It''s okay. It''s gonna be okay." She smiled. "You''re gonna be okay, Danie."


    "No..." I shook my head. Crying harder. "Magnan. Please."


    The sound of a car and many steps approached. Hell, Abraham takes so much time. We were almost out of time.


    "Danny..." Abraham''s voice was loud, calling out.


    I felt him approach and grab me. I shook my head, looking at Magnan''s pale face. "Help her first. Please. Help her." I cried loudly, but Magnan''s eyes were already empty. A single tear escaped her, and her mouth opened. Abraham pulled me gently into his arms. "Damien... help her. Please!!"


    Damien was about to carry Magnan''s body, but he stopped. His hands were around Magnan''s neck, his eyes widened to stare at Magnan, and then they drifted to me painedly.


    I shook my head, rebelling against Abraham''s hold on my body. I shouted. "Take her with you. Take her!"


    "Princesa." Damien shook his head, looking at me in defeat.


    I looked at Magnan and screamed. Ignoring the pain in my legs and stomach.


    I screamed. Keep screaming. I struggled in my first brother''s arms as he carried me out of our cheap apartment, and my other brother carried Magnan''s lifeless body out.


    I keep screaming until my throat was dry.


    And I realized my life would never be the same again.


    *


    ***


    Light greeted my closed eyes. I opened my eyes, my breathing in gasps. I red up at the ceiling of my room and then plopped down on my bed.


    "Danny..." Joanna sat on the edge of the bed.


    I inhaled greedily. So much to fill my lungs.


    "You''re screaming again. The nightmares are bothering you again." It wasn''t a question. It was a statement from her. "This is already the third time this month." She pondered, tilting her head. "Shouldn''t you be asking if I''m okay?"


    "You''re not okay, *Perra*." She sighed. "I already know." She picked up the ss on my tray and handed it to me. "Drink it."


    I took it and drank it down. She stood up and turned off the light, leaving a slight buttery glow from the nightlight I had stuck on the wall because I couldn''t sleep with the lights on. There was only that small light so it wouldn''t be too dark since I didn''t turn on the balcony lights.


    "Was my scream so loud this time?" I asked.


    "Not really. I heard you because I was still watching tv earlier, and you didn''t close your door tightly."


    I sighed and closed my eyes. Lie down again.


    "Can you sleep again? Are you sure?" she asked as she started to leave my room.


    "What time is it?"


    "Two o''clock at night." she replied.


    "I can''t sleep," I muttered irritably.


    "Pizza? Or ramen? Or just go out for a walk?"


    I looked at Joanna, who was looking at me casually, but there was a faint sadness behind it. She always worried about me, cared for me, and was always by my side when I was on my own dark side. I also did the same. It was a worthy reciprocity. I would always be by her side too. From her annoying nature, which often annoyed me, many other things always made mefortable being friends with her. She always understood my nightmares. She never asked what they were about, even though I always mentioned our other best friend''s name throughout my bad sleep. She never forced me to talk about the incident. She always waited until I was ready to tell her.


    I picked myself up, got off the bed, and stood up. "Pizza?"


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    "Pizza." Joanna nodded.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ***


    "He wants me to meet his family," I muttered between chews. I leaned back on the sofafortably, pulling the nket up to my thighs while the horror movie started. Joanna straightened up, shaking her head hard. "No. No."


    "What? Why?" I asked, frowning.


    "You know it," she grumbled. "That means he''s serious about you. You''re well aware that you can''t end up with him. There are too many obstacles. Your life is soplicated."


    I pouted at that, even though I knew he was right no matter how hard I denied it. "He won''t know who my family is."


    "Impossible. He will," she scoffed. "I''m sorry if I hurt you but he won''t ept you."


    "If I don''t tell him, he wouldn''t know." I reply.


    "You can''t be serious, Danie." And then followed by another Spanish swear word. "Jason Bernardi is the richest family in Europe, he, or his family, could not have not found out about you. Not do anything with you. Surely he will know, and surely they will know. Guess what will happen after that? They''ll be against you, the Bernardi family... they''re Italian, they''ll see you as a threat." She took a breath and then continued. "And then you''ll destroy yourselves. It''s better to end it before your rtionship deepens." She said. "Your family won''t agree either. I know them, they would choose a scavenger to marry you over a rich Italian."


    I ate my piece of pizza, not answering anything. Even though deep down, I knew it was the right thing to do.


    "Don''t put on a sad face, you know that''s sensible advice."


    "It''s sensible advice," I agreed, and sighed.


    She sighed. "You two can date but to get so serious, I don''t believe it will happen."


    "You''re a bad friend." I said sarcastically


    "I''m proud of that." She shrugged. "I don''t want to give you false hope, after all from what I can see you don''t love him, at least not that deeply."


    "What a smartass," I threw at her with the pop corn that was in the middle of us.


    It fell on her nket, and without hesitation she ate it. "You rarely called him, and you never worried even though you were in a long-distance rtionship. You''re fine without him. He rarely calls you either. You two are living your rtionship so strangely."


    I frowned. "He''s busy."


    Joanna rolled her eyes. "No matter how busy he is, he should stillmunicate with you. Like you said, he''s your boyfriend, and he loves you." She said. "And you... don''t you ever worry that he''s cheating on you behind your back? That there''s another woman he''s keeping and using while you''re away?"


    "He''s a good man. He wouldn''t do that." I replied. "He loves me, I knew it the moment I saw him. There''s no way he would cheat on me."


    "Well, now I''m wondering if you really don''t love him, or if it''s just you who''s so stupid that you believe he''s not doing anything behind your back."


    "Jo.. you''re such a bitch."


    "Plus, you can just not care about him and ignore him. Go about your day as usual without missing him, without crying over all the mncholy things about your rtionship. That''s never done by someone who says she loves her boyfriend." "That means I trust him."


    "Oh god, cut the crap."


    I pouted.


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    "You either don''t love him that deeply, or you''re just epting him because you''re lonely, and jealous of people who are with their boyfriends." She clucked while shaking her head. "You like to spend your time in vain."


    I snorted.


    "You never even get to sleep-I mean, real sleep-when he stays here. Is that called love? I thought if you loved someone, they''d make youfortable."


    "I can never sleep when I''m with someone else," I said. "That''s just me, and our rtionship is an adult phase that doesn''t go overboard like everyone else. It just works that way. Our rtionship is a safe love." I said again, realizing that I had denied a lot of things about Jason and me.


    "Horseshit," she swore with a slight mumble. "Tell me, does he know about your nightmares?"


    I was dumbfounded by the question.


    "He doesn''t, does he? And you said it was safe? If your rtionship is a safe love, then you would never think twice to telling him about your nightmares. He doesn''t even know that you never get to sleep when you two sleep together." She took a breath before chuckling in annoyance. "Now think about this, let him go and live your life alone, before things getplicated." Her voice was different, now serious. "You''ve dealt with Italians before, Danny. What if this ends up the same?"


    I pondered that.


    And throughout the movie, I... really thought about it.


    ***


    Jason called me after we ate together a few days ago. We nevermunicated again, even from messages. I tilted my head, thinking about that. Was Joanna right? I didn''t even feel anything when we weren''t in contact. "Hey, Jason."


    "Hey, baby. How are you today?"


    "I''m fine. How about you?" I asked, flipping through the book on myp.


    "I''m fine too." He replied. "Have you prepared yourself for tomorrow?"


    My head looked forward towards the front building. "Tomorrow?"


    "Did you forget that we''re going to my parents'' wedding anniversary party?"


    "Oh God," I sighed, regret creeping up on me. "I... gosh, no, I didn''t forget. I just didn''t realize it was the weekend. Time flies so fast."


    "You''re annoying, but I''m already missing you here."


    I chuckled at that. "I miss you too." The words still felt heavy on my tongue. "I''ll book a ne ticket tomorrow morning. I''ll only be there for one day right?"


    "You can be there as much time as you want, Sweetheart," he replied. But don''t you want to spend the weekend with us? We''ll have an amazing time."


    I bit my lip, wanting to refuse because I was so hesitant. Spending a whole weekend of two days with the Bernardi family would be incredibly awkward for me.


    "My mom would love to spend time with you," he didn''t force me, but he used other means to put me in an unpleasant position.


    I couldn''t refuse him because of his mother''s reasons. That would be hical and rude. I couldn''t afford to scratch Jason''s pride in front of his mother if I didn''te."Alright. I''ll spend the weekend with you." I replied. A happy chuckle escaped him. "Okay, baby. I''ll book a hotel for us."


    "Yeah, I can''t wait to meet you."


    "I can''t wait to meet you too."

 IV

    Jason didn''t take me to the hotel he said he had booked for us. But he did take me to the luxurious vi on the beach, which he said belonged to his parents, which he used because the distance between their other vi, where the luxurious party was to be held, was closer than the distance from the hotel to it.


    I spent some time enjoying the expensive wooden-floored house that I didn''t know the type of and gazing around at the furniture. Simple but ssy. It was elegant enough without being overly furnished, and I enjoyed the view from the balcony. Venice Beach, where some people were basking in the sun and some men were surfing the slightly high waves.


    "I have to go to my parents'' ce first, do you want toe with me?" Jason asked me.


    I opened my mouth and grimaced. I shook my head. "I think I''d like to rest a bit."


    He chuckled softly, leaning in to kiss the top of my head. "Get some rest, then. I might be there for a while. I''ve prepared dinner so you just need to heat it up. Or if you don''t like the menu, you can just wander around the food shopping center."


    I nodded. "Sure," I replied. "Are we the only ones here?"


    He tilted his head. "Zane was going to stay here too but it looks like he''s still on his way."


    I red. "Zane? Your brother?" I opened my mouth. "What if.. if I''m the only one here when hees?"


    "It''s alright, sweetheart. He''s quite chill," he replied, chuckling. "Didn''t you want to meet him?"


    "Yeah, but..." I shuddered. "I''m just ufortable."


    His smile was soothing. "I''ll tell him toe to my parents'' vi instead, then."


    I nodded with relief. "That''s good."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "I''ll leave for now, then. Get some rest."


    "Be careful."


    He walked out, and I looked around the house again. Everything was clean and beautiful, and there was nothing to make me ufortable here, so Iid myself down on the bed in the room Jason had shown me.


    Well, our rooms were separate, and that was okay because I also preferred sleeping alone. I could never sleep with another person, let alone a man. I liked my own space. I could even stay in my room all day without seeing Joanna, even though


    we lived together. But I wasfortable with her. I liked sleeping in herpany when my nightmares got the best of me. No one else outside my family line could make me cling like that other than Joanna and Magnan...


    I should feel the same way about Jason. Shouldn''t I? He''s my boyfriend. I should be morefortable or able to sleep with him without fidgeting and staying up all day. That should be it.


    It made me wonder: Do I really love him? Or is this just a normal thing that some people feel sometimes? But I should be reallyfortable because we''ve been dating for three years, and I''m so sure that I love him. For God''s sake, that''s not a short time. But I''m still the same as I was three years ago. I realized that I had closed myself off from him too much.


    What''s happening to me?


    Snorting softly, I realize I''ve been overthinking. I get out of bed and decide to walk along the beach for a while to refresh my mind. I tie my hair into an original roll, grab my small purse, and start to walk out of the vi.


    I wore thin sandals as I walked towards the beach, feeling the heat of the sun on my skin. I observed four men near the waves of the beach. Two of them were sitting on their surfboards, watching the other two focusing on conquering the waves. Then, one man who had been sitting on a green surfboard got up and started surfing after his two friends. The other one remained seated on his blue surfboard. Only he wasn''t wearing a swimsuit, just boxers.


    I winced as one of them fell into the water, swallowed by the waves, but secondster, emerged from the water and shouted pleasure at the other three guys. Frowning, I didn''t understand where the fun came from. Were they not horrified to be in the sea with those waves of death? Did it never ur to them that there could be ferocious sea creatures that would devour them from below, such as whales, sharks, or even leviathans?


    The men... had a strange thing for fun.


    I folded my arms in front of my chest, stroked my neck, which was exposed to the direct sun, and tilted my head when I saw the four of them as a self-entertainment since the beach was quite deserted.


    Four good-looking men with athletic bodies broughtfort to my eyes because all I saw were my ugly brothers when they skated at Juan Turnillo Beach. I''d rather sleep on a beach lounge chair than look at those three ugly guys. Unfortunately, I was at the edge of the beach, so I couldn''t see their faces clearly, but what caught my eye the most was the guy still sitting on his board, the guy who only showed off his athletic back to me, his hair was ck and bushy, and the side profile he showed as heughed at his friends fascinated me. The muscles of his arms moved as he caressed the surface of the water. Truly a feast for any woman''s eyes. He was athletic but not overly so. His muscles were shaped just right, and I wondered about his abs and shoulders. Ugh, if only he turned around...


    And yet, I blinked, realizing that I had Jason, who obviously had like the things that were in that guy sitting on the surfboard. Although Jason was a little less athletic and had blonde hair, he had the charm of gentleness.


    Whereas the guy that my eyes were drawn to... maybe he was some kind of bad boy because that''s what bad boys do: unt their physical assets and ensnare women with a wave of their sexy face.


    Sighing softly, I thought about walking along the seafront again and maybe finding a stall selling delicious snacks. I started to walk again but I stopped when I saw the man who had been sitting on his surfboard move, beginning to skate as his three friends took turns sitting on their boards.


    My eyes blinked a few times, trying to get a good look at him. Unfortunately, I couldn''t because of the distance and the re of the sun.


    But from afar, he was so handsome and.... a little familiar.


    I squinted my eyes as my vision blurred and regretted not wearing sses. I started trying to focus my gaze on him, not knowing where the curiosity came from, but I didn''t think about it. I was one of those women who couldn''t stand looking at handsome men, well just to admire them not to get close to or flirt with them.


    Especially that guy who was surfing shirtless. The movement of his body on the waves was very mesmerizing, beautiful, very... sexy. There were abs on his stomach and chest... so pleasing to the eye.


    I narrowed my eyes at his downturned face, his bangs slightly covering his eyes, and then I couldn''t see him anymore because the waves ate him up. Snorting, I shook my head at myself. This is really ridiculous.


    I began to pick up the pace, walking along the beach in search of food and coconut water, which would surely be fresh and help me fight off the California sun.


    Not far from where I was standing earlier, I found a stall selling coconut water. I stood and waited for my drink to finish while looking at some essories hanging on the wall.


    "No mojito?" asked the fat, bald man in a blue shirt with a South American ent.


    I frowned and shook my head. "No, coconut water only," I replied, not in English but in Spanish.


    He raised an eyebrow and shouted for someone else to make the coconut water before asking me again in Spanish. From his ent, he seemed to be from Chile or Argentina. "Where are you from, Miss?" I raised a smile. "Colombia. You?"


    "Chile." He said happily. "Do you want Empanadas or Sopaipi? I''ll give it to you for free."


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    I chuckled and shook my head. "I''ll take your offer, but I''ll still pay for it."


    "No, no." He shook his head. "You don''t have to. It feels like I''m meeting a distant rtive."


    "Aren''t there a lot of South Americans here?" I asked.


    He nodded. "Very many, but Colombians have a special ce in my heart."


    "Why?" I tilted my head, looking at him with curiosity and interest.


    "There used to be a group of Colombians who helped me build this little shop of mine that was destroyed by a group of thugs, and they were very kind. They helped my struggling family to send my teenage son to college in Boston." "Who are they?"


    "If you know, he is Juan Rodriguez and his wife Saba Rodriguez. They walk like ordinary people, but I know they are very rich people," he said thoughtfully as if thrown back in time.


    While I was full of shock. Never thought that it was my own parents.


    "They''re not here anymore, but their son who I know is named Abraham is here, he even has a house on the beach not far from here. Hees here often."


    I opened my mouth in astonishment and blinked a few times.


    He chuckled. "Why am I telling you a long story?" he asked himself before he walked towards the bartender''s table and then into the kitchen while I was still shocked at his story.


    Damn, I''m shocked because... how did I happen to find the person my parents helped? That''s really wow, and it will be a story I''ll tell my mom.


    Even Abrahames here often?


    It made me realize that Los Angeles is so controlled by my father that he must be known in every corner of this city without them realizing that he''s the leader of a terrible Colombian mafia group.


    He reappeared with a stic cup and brown paper wrapper and handed it to me.


    "You really don''t have to give it to me," I grimaced when I saw that he had given me a lot of the Chilean snack.


    "It''s okay. Take it."


    "Thank you," I said sincerely.


    He smiled the way my father smiled. Gentle.


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    "I''lle here often," I chuckled softly. But a suspicion crept into my heart. What if he was a bad guy... or an enemy who already knew me and was trying to get familiar to appeal to my vulnerability. What if he put poison in this food and killed me and that he lied about Abrahaming here often?


    I left after she said a few words about Mother always protecting me and then smiled.


    I closed the shop door quietly and turned around.


    But someone bumped into me, causing my stic cup of coconut water to fall to the ground and make me almost fall down the wooden stairs. The man''s arm wrapped around my waist.


    "Fuck, sorry." The heavy, raspy voice sounded in front of my face.


    I looked up to stare at him and was ready to revile him, but the words escaped my head. Something tied my tongue.


    Something made my body freeze like ice, even though it was so hot in Los Angeles.


    My eyes widened at the handsome man in front of me. The familiar man. So familiar.


    The one who haunts my nights. The one who always in my nightmares, and ruined everything.


    My lungs are bound by something so tight it makes my breath catch. Goosebumps spread throughout my body.


    I quickly moved away from him with a violent shudder.


    His dted eyes and surprised face made me realize that he knew me too.


    I immediately pulled away from him and ran...


    Leaving him behind.


    Danzel.


    He was Danzel.


    The man who left after enjoying my body and left a mess in my life.


    The one who molded me into a different person.


    "Wait, please." his heavy voice was behind me.


    And I ran.


    Running so fast.

 V

    Trembling still overcame me as I went to the back of the vi and locked the door after throwing away the food the Chilean man had given me. I gazed back through the square ss window beside the door at the beach. There is no one.


    He stopped following me.


    My breathing wasbored, my body was so limp, and trembling still overcame me as I pulled the curtain to close the window and leaned against the door. My body just slumped down limply. I sat before the door, pulling up my knees and burying my head there.


    Never believe any of this. Hoping that this was just a dream. That, as always, he was only terrorizing me through my stormy night. Not my real life. Trying to tell myself that the one who appeared in front of the restaurant wasn''t him. That it wasn''t him who caught my attention while he was surfing with his three friends. It wasn''t him that I saw, and it wasn''t him that I met.


    But whatever it was, it wasn''t what I wanted.


    It was real.


    That he appeared. That he''s around me. That I''m on his radar.


    Among so many people, why did it have to be him again that I met?


    I closed my eyes. And it only got worse when in the darkness, I found Magnan''s eyes staring at me nkly. I found myself thrown back into that t. I felt the pain in my heart because I saw Danzel deadly smile. At Abraham putting a gun to my head for using me of treason. On the blood. On Carlos Garcia cing a gun to my head.


    It was all because of him. Danzel.


    "Fuck. Fuck." I mumbled, my head throbbing so hard. I opened my eyes and immediately got up.


    I went into the room Jason had given me to stay in, rummaging through my bag for my medication. I found them and went straight to the kitchen to get some water. I immediately took tworge pills and sat on the bar stool to calm down.


    >>>


    "Danie," a heavy voice with a thick Italian ent wakes me.


    I frowned at the strokes on my face and opened my eyes. Looking at Jason, who sat on the edge of the bed, pulled a smile.


    "Hey," I moved my body, groaning softly.


    "Looks like you''re really tired," he murmured, chuckling softly.


    I frowned softly, squinting at the rectangr window that had been opened, revealing a view of the beach in... daylight? "What time is it?"


    "Twelve o''clock," he replied. " Midday."


    "What?!" I whispered in shock. I got here at noon, and... I took a walk on the beach, and then... damn it. I don''t want to remember it anymore. "I''ve been sleeping since yesterday afternoon.. until now?" I rose from my sleep, the nket falling from my chest.


    "Yes, baby." He said.


    Yeah, I just remembered I''ve taken my two sleeping pills at once. Normally, I would only sleep for five or eight hours, but this is double. "Oh god."


    He chuckled softly. "That''s understandable, you''re tired."


    "I''m not tired," I shook my head, denying it, but I didn''t want him to know the real reason. "I just got a headache after a walk on the beach, so I took some paracetamol, and yeah, I didn''t know it would be this bad." Jason''s eyes turned worried. "Gosh, why didn''t you call me?" his worried voice rang out.


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    I smiled weakly. "It''s just a headache."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "It could spread everywhere, dear." He replied. "We need to see a doctor now."


    "I''m fine, Jason." I stroked his face, and he kissed the back of my hand. Oh, look how romantic this guy is. "I want breakfast-eh, lunch. I''m hungry."


    "I forgot to offer you lunch," he chuckled. "The maid has prepared our lunch, let''s eat."


    "I have to take a shower first."


    "I''ll wait for you at the dining table, then."


    I nodded and got off the bed. I picked up my towel and casual clothes. It was a good thing the birthday party was this afternoon, so I could rx a little. It would have been awful if they had held it at this hour, and I was still just waking up. Jason would have been distraught with me.


    I stared at my face through the sink''s ss. My eyes were swollen from so much sleep, and my blue eyes still gave off azy look of lingering sleepiness. I sighed softly, trying to tap into something else thaty beyond the veil, to what I''ve been trying to hide.


    The truth is that I never became strong. I never changed. I was still in that apartment... with Magnan''s blood on my hands, with Magnan''s nk stare lurking in my darkness. Things had been going well for five years, but my body was still there. It didn''t want to move away, and it didn''t want to leave. I wanted to stay there with Magnan. To keep pretending that I was okay even though I wasn''t. I was like a human without a soul.


    And it only got worse when all the masterminds of the destruction of my life, of Magnan''s life and Joanna''s life, were here. Appearing suddenly in front of me like fate intended it to torment me.


    I blinked, tears dripping from my eyes. I wiped them away andposed myself again. cing both hands on the sink, I looked down, inhaled, and exhaled slowly. It''s like the breath training I got from my martial arts training with Damien. I did it six times and tried to focus on myself.


    Once I was calm enough, I straightened up. Staring at the ss with a smile. "Hey, I''m Danie." I tried out my sweet voice to use in front of Jason''s familyter.


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    My smile faded. I clucked and then walked towards the shower.


    This is so ridiculous. I am totally a dork.


    <<<


    "How about your brother?" I asked between chewing on the deliciously saut¨¦ed pumpkin and mashed potatoes in front of me.


    "He stay with us. Apparently, he came before you yesterday and went to y with his friends, who were invited by my father too," Jason said.


    "Well, where is he now?" I asked, grinning. "I want to meet him," I continued.


    "Patience," Jason winked at me. "Zane and Papa are discussing something, so maybe you''ll meet him at the partyter, and you''ll meet Illiza too. She''s already asked a lot about you. You guys will get along well. She''s pretty fun, too, while my brother... I''m not sure."


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "He''s a jerk, and he takes any woman. I''m afraid he took you." He looked at me seriously when I thought that he was just joking.


    Iughed amusedly. "I''ve had enough drama, honey. I don''t want to cause any more drama." I held out my hand since the dining table was small. I pinched his cheek anxiously. "My eyes are already on you." I smiled widely at him. "I love you so much, Danie."


    "Me too, me too." And I start eating my lunch with a heavy weight on my heart.


    Fucking hypocrite. I''m such a hypocrite.


    <<<

 VI

    I''m wearing the best dress I bought, the one Theo bought me two years ago for my birthday because he didn''t know what to get me. It''s pretty, simple, and not too fancy. A cream-colored midi dress with green floral ents on the flouncy bottom, a slightly high chest that didn''t expose too much of my skin, and spaghetti straps on my shoulders.


    After giving it a little wave at the bottom of my hair, I let it down and made my makeup natural. Don''t be too shy, I told myself.


    Stepping out of the room after finishing putting on my shoes, grabbing my small purse, and picking up a small gift box for Jason''s parents, I found Jason sitting on the sofa chair. He looked up and looked at me while raising an eyebrow. I spun around in front of him, showing him my appearance. "How do I look?" I asked him.


    He shook his head slowly with a big smile. "I can''t believe this," he sighed harshly. "So pretty. Absolutely gorgeous."


    I tilted my head, "Thank you. You''re handsome too." I said as he stood up. He wore a ck suit and jeans, and his blond hair was neat. Not too much, but he was already handsome.


    "Thanks, baby." He came closer and kissed the top of my head. "I''d kiss your lips but you''d throw a tantrum about your messy lipstick."


    "I''ll kick your ass if you do," I chuckled softly.


    He chuckled. "Ready?"


    I bit my lip and shook my head. "A little nervous."


    "Just rx, Baby. They won''t bite you." He said as he walked me out of the vi.


    The view of the sun about to set on the horizon was so beautiful that I turned around for a while just to look at it. "Don''t you realize who your family is, huh? Bernardi...." I grimaced and looked back at Jason.


    "Yeah, we''re not cruel like most," he chuckled softly. "Take it easy. There''s me. If anyone dares to say anything that makes you ufortable, I''ll be here." I smiled as he stroked my face lightly. "You''re already very beautiful. Don''t diminish that with this nervous face,"


    I scowled and got into the car as he opened the door for me. He closed the door when I was inside and sat in the passenger seat beside him. My eyes returned to staring at the beautiful horizon even after Jason pressed the gas. The scenery along the coast is gorgeous. The few times I spent time at the beach in California, I never stopped being amazed by the beach. Actually I always sucker for any beach, I love the beach and all things nature, and I dislike cities. That''s why when my dad offered me to settle in Las Vegas, Boston, or San Francisco, I chose San Francisco. It was the city option that was close to the beach. The rest was just a boring city. I would spend a long time going to refresh my mind or healing.


    We drove through the streets on the outskirts of the beach, just a short distance from Jason''s vi. It only took fifteen minutes.


    My eyes gazed at the luxurious, upright wooden vi at the very end of Venice Beach. It was upright, luxurious, and elegant, but it had simple ents, like in the vi where I was staying.


    Goosebumps crept up my stomach, nervousness stirring my nonexistent confidence. "Jason," I called softly. I looked up at him, who was smiling calmly.


    He took my hand romantically and gently kissed the back of it. I took a breath and let it out softly.


    It had been so long that I was in the midst of strangers without anyone I knew with me. If at parties I was always stick to Theo, Damien, or Mama, now I could only be stick to Jason.


    "Promise not to leave me. You have to stay with me, Jason."


    Heughed low. "Yes, baby. Yes," he said, calming me down. "I can wait for you to calm down, and then we can go in."


    I swallowed and looked at the house, filled with so many people who were definitely not ordinary people. They could be the old money that drives the world economy.


    Some were outside, and some were inside, and I didn''t know how to enter without being seen.


    I sighed, squeezed Jason''s hand in mine, and exhaled again. "Vamos," I said softly.


    <<<


    My heart was beating fast in my chest, and my hands were sweaty because I was so nervous. Beside me, Jason squeezed my hand lightly, telling me that I would be fine through his eyes. So many people, with their elegant and luxurious style, made me nervous.


    It was really suffocating in here.


    "We''re going to meet my parents in person."


    I bit my lip. "I''m afraid they won''t like my gift," I mumbled as we passed through the front of the house to the door on the other side that led outside, on the beachfront.


    "They''ll be happy, Baby. Don''t think too much." Heughed amusedly.


    "Yeah, I tried." I swallowed.


    He led me out the back porch to the venue. It was like a slow and simple beach party. Soft music could be heard, and I resisted my chest bound by the tight rope as we approached a middle-aged couple talking to another couple. "Sorry to bother you, Mr. and Mrs. Norris," Jason politely interrupted their conversation. "I wanted to introduce a special guest to my mom and dad." He continued.


    "Oh, what a surprise!" The woman I guessed to be Mrs. chuckled softly and then led her husband away after saying, "Well, it''s your turn, little Bernardi. We''ll see the rest of the guests."


    Meanwhile, Jason''s parents excitedly looked at me with soft, broad smiles.


    "Papa, Mama.. this is Danie Gomez, my girlfriend." Jason said.


    I could feel my face heating up.


    "Nice to meet you, Danie." Jason''s mother, Mrs. Bernardi, greeted me warmly. Her bright green eyes radiated warmth and sincerity, lessening my slight nervousness.


    "Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Bernardi, Mr. Bernardi," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite my racing heart. I handed over the small gift box I had prepared. "Here''s a little gift for you, I hope you like it."


    "Oh, thank you, dear," Mr. Bernardi said with a friendly smile, epting the box. "You didn''t bother, but we really appreciate it."


    I smiled shyly, relieved that they seemed so lovely. Jason hugged my shoulder gently, giving me a boost of courage. "Danie chose it herself," he said proudly.


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    "That''s very sweet," Mrs. Bernardi said. "We''re so d Jason brought such a caring and sweet girlfriend like you. Let''s enjoy this party together."


    The four of us walked towards the party area, where people gathered, talked, andughed. Soft music ys in the background, adding to the beautiful beach atmosphere in the twilight. "Do you like the beach, Danie?" asks Mrs. Bernardi as she takes my drink and hands it to me.


    "Yes, very much," I answer honestly.


    "So do we," says Mr. Bernardi. "We spend a lot of time here, enjoying the natural beauty and the quiet atmosphere. I hope you''ll feel at home."


    I smiled, feeling their kindness and friendliness. Slowly but surely, my nervousness began to subside. Jason, always beside me, looked at me with tenderness and support, making me feel stronger.


    We continued to chat with Jason''s parents, getting to know each other better. They told me about Jason''s childhood, funny stories, and good memories that made us allugh. I felt morefortable and started to enjoy the time we spent together.


    "Jason always talks about how special you are, Danie," Mrs. Bernardi said. "We can see why he loves you so much. You really are a wonderful woman."


    It was too soon to draw conclusions about me, but I felt ttered and a little embarrassed by thepliment. "Thank you very much, Mrs. Bernardi. I also feel very special to be Jason''s girlfriend. He''s very kind," I replied.


    Mrs. Bernardi chuckled softly. "Have you met Illiza and Zane?" she asked.


    I shook my head.


    "Ah, where are they?" Jason asked. "I haven''t seen them."C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    "Illiza must be busy with her friends. Maybe Zane too." Jason''s father replied.


    "When you see them both, be sure to introduce Danie to them," Jason''s mom said, then smiled at me. "They are very curious about the woman who can conquer their brother."


    I smiled at that. Again, shy overcame me.


    "Okay, Mom."


    "We will greet the other guests, then." Jason''s mom said, patting my arm twice. "Enjoy the party and the food, Danie."


    I nodded and watched as the two of them went back to greet the other guests.


    "Red wine or white wine?" Jason asked.


    "Red." I answered quietly.


    Jason nodded and took the red wine from the waiter who passed us. I took it and took a small sip,


    "How was it? They didn''t bite, did they?" Jason asked, raising his eyebrows to tease me.


    I smiled, "No." I replied with a slight chuckle. "Turns out they''re not vampires."


    Weughed, and he wrapped his arm around my waist, taking another sip of his red wine. "Let''s go get something to eat. I''m hungry."


    "So this is your girlfriend, Stronzo?"


    The voice from behind us made me stiffen.


    It wasn''t the usual surprise. It was because the voice was so familiar, so recognizable to all my nerves. My smile faded, but I didn''t turn around while Jason already did.


    He guided me to turn around.


    I did so only because I was curious about why that voice was so simr to that of the man who haunted my nights.


    And.. he is...


    Blood seemed to flow from my face.


    A brutal jolt shot through me so violently when I saw who was in front of me. Smiling sweetly. The smile that he once gave me.


    The smile that brought me to hell.


    Danzel.


    "This is Zane Bernardi, my brother." Jason''s words hit my ears like a hurricane.


    My heart beats chaotically with the shock that assaults me.


    "Danie," his voice as he called me was precisely the same as it had ever been. The man in front of me tilted his head before offering his hand. "I''m Zane Bernardi. Nice to meet you Danie." The hell beneath my feet seemed to copse.


    Zane bernardi...


    Danzel.


    Someone who once destroyed my world... it can''t be him.


    He couldn''t possibly be my boyfriend''s brother.

 VII

    I restrained myself from exploding.


    Shock overcame me brutally. I never thought that this would happen. I couldn''t believe this was reality because I assumed I would never see him again during my five years away from Mexico. My smile is forced out for a few seconds. Something constricts my lungs, making it hard for me to breathe. I take his hand, and he squeezes mine, shaking our hands slightly.


    "I never thought my ugly brother would get a beautiful woman like you, Danie... Gomez..." he tilted his head, looking at me with his sweet, easy smile.


    I unlinked our hands and nodded. "Thank you,"


    "I''m not that ugly," Jason replies, seemingly unaware of my changing facial aura. "She chose me because I''m a good guy and a real man." Jason continued jokingly.


    Danzel...er, Zane Bernardi just smiled with a sneer and shook his head "I can''t believe there are still good women like Danie who fall for your mask, Jason." He replied, then drew his gaze to me again. I swallowing hard at that.


    His face was still the same, even more ruggedly handsome with his well-defined jawline, and eyes as sharp as a hawk. His short ck hair was thick and messy from the sea breeze. His dimples were still there when he smiled. There was no denying that so many people were always curious about Zane Bernardi. Because the rumors turned out to be true.


    He is definitely still so damn ravishingly gorgeous.


    And sexy.


    And charming.


    But he''s a dick. His facade is like a demon walking over the world and trapping people into sin. He uses charm, good looks, and beauty as a curse on people who are weak in faith.


    Zane Bernardi is like that. He was the one who had destroyed my world five years ago, interfered in the murder of my best friend, he was the one who made Joanna and me hunted by the Mexican cartel, and made us have to be under strict security by my family. But it was all because of me too, who was so easily trapped by the anchor he created. It was all because I was so stupid.


    "I''m not a con artist like you." Jason replied, which made me agree. It was like he was representing me to say that. He was indeed a con man. The real con man is him... Zane Bernardi. "You''re just jealous that I''m happy with getting a good woman while you''re still in your filthy habit of fooling around in bed with bitches." Jason shook his head with a chuckle. "You have to stop that, Brother. What if they carry venereal diseases and pass them on to you? What if you get the disease instead?"


    "You''re ruining my image in front of your girlfriend, Jason." His brother''s warning came out softly but his tone was so sharp, he smiled at both of us. "Have a good time at the party, then. I have to meet my friends first." He continued. Zane Bernardi looked at me with a smile, a smile that was like a horrible grin like he knew that I was scared now, and like he was d that I didn''t run away like yesterday. "Nice to meet you, Danie." he says in a low, drifting voice, and sends a jolt of vibrations through my body.


    And then he''s gone, past us.


    The hook seemed to release from my weak lungs, and I began to breathe softly. I took a sip of my red wine and looked at Jason, who was smiling at me.


    "What do you think? You''ve met Zane Bernardi. The man you''ve been urging me to meet. What do you think of him?"


    I shrugged. I honestly regretted it. "He''s... I don''t know, kind of an asshole." It just came out from my mouth.


    Heughed softly as he pulled me gently towards the empty spot by the fence. "No one said that before. I''m really surprised now. Usually they''re immediately mesmerized by him." "Well, I''m not." I replied.


    "What would you like? Pasta or mushroom pizza or just a drink?"


    "I wantsagna."


    "Oh that''s avable," he nodded. "Wait here, okay? I won''t be long." He said.


    I nodded as I looked at him, who approached the long food stand. I sat facing the people. It made it easy for me to get to Zane Bernardi, leaning on the iron railing while talking to his other friends, who... I just found out that they were the guys who surfed at the beach yesterday.


    He seemed to be talking seriously with them, which was taken seriously as well, and I immediately pulled my eyes away from there so that he wouldn''t catch that I was watching him.


    Oh god.


    This is really a disappointing surprise.


    And I really can''t stand being here.


    I even... gosh, that guy is in the same house as me. That means... I frowned, my eyes looking at the crowd, but my head wandered to remember what happened after taking my panic medicine yesterday afternoon. I remember that I daydreamed before an unbearable sleep overcame me, and I don''t know that I went to bed. Does that mean... Zane Bernardi was there and took me?


    I shook my head lightly, pushing the thought away. No, he didn''t. He didn''t. I must have unconsciously gone to the room. Yes, I did.


    I smiled as Jason approached and brought a tray with two square bowls ofsagna, a water bottle, a spoon, and a fork. He sat in front of me and arranged them. I took it because the dish before me was so dazzling. I also wanted to eat to ease the heat in my chest.


    I couldn''t keep quiet when I met Zane Bernardi again. I wanted to p his face and shoot him in the chest with a gun in retaliation for Magnan''s death. I could do that now, but I couldn''t handle the mess afterward. But wasn''t it worth it? Yet I won''t do it now. I can''t... I just can''t bear the weight on my chest.


    I''m scared. I''m afraid of... what if he identally showed up to me to take another life? What if he''s still working with Carlos Garcia and will kill me after this? What if what happened five years ago happened again?


    I picked up a piece ofsagna with my trembling hands while Jason smiled at me. "You hungry, huh?"


    I nodded, chewing on thesagna, which instantly took away the bitter taste from my tongue. I took my phone from my small bag and typed a message to Joanna saying: call me.


    It didn''t take long, just ten seconds, for her to read my message and call me. I looked at Jason, who was frowning at me, and I picked up immediately.


    "Why? Something happened?"


    "What? Why? How did you get into an ident, Jo?" I made my worried face, and my hard face as I looked at Jason.


    "What, Perra? You told me to call you!" Her grumbling voice almost made meugh.


    "So where are you now? Is it bad? You need to see a doctor, JO!" I put on my increasingly worried voice.


    Joanna yelled angrily on the other end of our call. "What the fuck, you fucking bitch. Who''s in the hospital?! You have the wrong number, you idiot!"


    "Okay, fine. I''ll try to make it in time, at least Damien''s there. You''ll be fine."


    "DON''T BRING THAT HORRIBLE BROTHER OF YOURS. YOU BIT-"C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    I hung up our call and looked at Jason, who looked at me with a worried look from earlier.


    "What''s wrong? Why?" he asked.


    "Joanna had an ident," I replied, shaking my head and looking sad. I didn''t know. She..."


    "The ident was that bad?" Jason asked.


    I nodded. "She hit a tree at high speed when she went to the beach."


    "What?"


    "I think I should go back to San Francisco, Jason. She.. I''m worried about her. There''s no one to look after her now. I''m really worried about her." I replied, busily checking my phone. "Are you okay with that? I''m sorry. I''m not..." I shook my head in an artificial panic.


    "It''s okay. I''ll book a ne ticket for you."


    "I just bought it." I shook my head, even as I typed a message to Theo to pick me up now. I couldn''t continue to be around Jason while his brother was around, plus he lived in the same house as us. Obviously, I didn''t want to see him. He nodded. "I''ll drive you to the airport."


    I shook my head. "The party''s still going on. You can''t just leave it. Just take me to your vi and my brother will pick me up. He happens to be here."


    Jason shook his head. "No, Danie..."


    I put on a severe face. "Jason. It''s okay."


    He let out a long breath and nodded. "All right. Come on, then."


    ***


    "Your brother is already here?"


    I nodded. Theo had just sent a message that he was at the store next to Jason''s vi. I finished putting my dirty clothes into the stic and looked at Jason, who was standing and looking at me worriedly. I actually felt guilty that I had to lie. But I can''t give him any truth about what happened between his brother and me, especially since we were in the same house. I couldn''t bear to see him.


    I was broken. Right now, I''m even holding onto that fracture.


    If I see Zane Bernardi again, I''ll break.


    "Calm down, Danny." Jason said softly. He rubbed my face. It looks like I''m acting with totality. "Joanna will be fine."


    I nodded. "Yeah, I have to go now."


    "Okay, let''s go," he said, taking my suitcase.


    It was getting dark, the orange streetlights were on, and my brother leaned against his ssic ck car. I cursed in my head when I saw him.


    "Just here, Jason. He will finish you off if youe along." I stopped him as we started to enter the convenience store parking lot. I looked at him and then hugged him. "Thank you, Jason. I love you."


    He hugged me tightly, gently stroking my back, burying his face in my hair. "No thanks needed, sweetheart. Give my regards to Joanna."


    I nodded.


    "I''m going to San fransisco on Wednesday or Tuesday." He said. "To spend our time together."


    "Sure. See you soon." I broke our hug, and he kissed my lips briefly. He wanted to watch me until I got into my brother''s car, but his father calling him made him undo that intention while I breathed a sigh of relief. At least Theo wouldn''t see Jason, and Jason wouldn''t see how my brother''s style, who was too high for the middle ss.


    I pulled the suitcase towards Theo, who was still focused on his cell phone. He was also ignoring the few women who were looking at him with interest.


    "Theo," I called low.


    He straightened up and looked at me, frowning at the dress I was wearing, the one he had given me for my birthday. "You''re wearing my dress," he said with a slight nod. It''s beautiful."


    "I know, now let''s go. Hurry up." I replied.


    He lifted my suitcase to the back of the car, and I got into the front passenger seat. He got in and started the car while looking at me with astonishment in his eyes. "Didn''t you say you were going to have fun, spend time with your boyfriend? Until you had to persuade dad to let me and Abraham loosen the security around you." he started to drive us away. "What happened?"


    I narrowed my eyes. "Yeah, I think I''d rather spend time with my brother." Theo was already starting to smile widely. "That''s what you wanted to hear, right?" I continued.


    Heughed. "It''s what you''re supposed to say."


    "You wish." I replied, folding my arms across my chest. "I met him." I continued.


    "Who?"


    "The man who made Garcia kill Magnan." I replied, staring at the road and the beautiful sunset that decorated the road to Abraham''s vi. "I met him earlier, and I couldn''t bear to be there."


    Theo stiffened next to me. No words and no more jokes. He stopped at the side of the road. I looked at him and hugged him. My tears just came out; they came out so hard and flowed freely. He hugged me back, rubbing my back gently. I couldn''t spit out all the anguish in my heart. I just cried and cried harder, soaking Theo''s white t-shirt.


    <<<


    "Zane Bernardi." Abraham said he snorted.


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    I looked at my first brother, ring. "You knew?" I asked. Hugging myself, I sat on the couch with my mom''s knitted nket, hugging my body and a warm cup of coffee. "Of course. We''ve all known for a long time." Abraham replied.


    Theo, sitting on the floor on the carpet in front of me, asked, "Why did you get to meet him?"


    "He.." I lost the line. "..he was invited by my boyfriend''s parents."


    "Who''s your boyfriend?" Abraham asked. "He''s one of Italy''s elite?"


    I couldn''t tell. I couldn''t say that my boyfriend was Zane Bernardi''s younger brother. They would make Jason an easy target. "No, they''re not. They''re business colleagues." I said.


    "What''s your boyfriend''s name?" Abraham asked again, his expression stiff and t. Cold. He was always like that, but I knew he loved me in his own way.


    "Francisco Maranello." I replied, remembering the made-upst name Jason had given me because he didn''t want me to ept him as a Bernardi man. He wanted me to ept him for who he was, not for his family. Abraham nodded. "Cut him off, then." He said directly.


    "Abraham," I called softly.


    "What? You can do it. If your boyfriend''s family can invite that man, then their business ties are so strong. He''ll probably track you down through your boyfriend and then he''ll repeat the same thing. Do you want that to happen? What if it''s you in this time?"


    "Abraham," Theo warned him lowly. "Watch yournguage."


    "I''m saying the right possibility. I''m not wrong."


    Theo growled. "I know. But you scared her."


    "To get her to think." He replied to Theo, then looked back at me. "You know we don''t tolerate Italians, you should break up with him right now."


    I really should, especially since Jason was a Bernardi. If only they knew about that, maybe now I would be returned to Madelin immediately. Moreover, his brother worked with Carlos Garcia, the man who killed Magnan, which put my life and Joanna''s at risk. Zane Bernardi was the mastermind of it all.


    "I''ll do it."


    "Good." Abraham gave a slight nod and leaned back on the couch. "Now go home. Both of you."


    "No," Theo disagreed. "We''re going on vacation, right Princesa?" he tells me. "We''re going to spend time at the beach tomorrow and go on a food tour. I''m taking a week off so I''ll spend it here with her."


    I nodded in agreement to Theo, but doubt slipped into my chest. "What if it''s dangerous? There''s a big mobster after me, and I just met with himst night. What if..."


    "Don''t worry about that. He won''t dare. California is not Cosa Nostra territory." Abraham said soothingly. "There is already a limit set, there will be a war if he dares to touch and hurt you in our area."


    It was an exaggeration, but I had seen exaggerated halls all my life, and then I remembered about the man in the Chile restaurant. "Do you know the Chilean who opened the restaurant on Venice Beach?" I asked Abraham. I put the warm coffee on the table.


    Abraham frowned and nodded. "Yeah, why?"


    "I told him I was from Madelin and he identally mentioned the Colombian who helped him. Apparently he was Papa. He even said that you came there often. He gave me food for free."


    "That''s true. His name is Guzman. He''s a good man."


    I was surprised about that. "I threw away the food he gave me."


    "Oh God," Abraham sighed harshly,


    "It wasn''t my fault. You three always say not to ept anything from people I don''t know, and I wasn''t sure about his story. That''s why I threw it away." I said, shrugging.


    "Fair point," Abraham said. "Their food is really good. We''re going there tomorrow." He continued.


    I shook my head. "No." I replied. "What if Zane Bernardi is there? I don''t want to see him even if he''s forbidden from harming me here. Besides, my boyfriend''s vi is close to Guzman''s restaurant, what if my boyfriend finds out that I''m still in Los Angeles? There are many better restaurants here. We''ll go there when they''re about to leave."


    "Whatever you want, princess." Said Theo, and Abraham rolled his eyes to us.

 VIII

    As Theo said, we won''t be leaving, and we''ll be spending the weekend in Los Angeles-in Malibu, to be precise.


    I woke up directly facing a ss wall that showed the beach. People were walking on the beach, ying volleyball, or even just sunbathing. The beach was crowded in 8 a.m because it was Sunday.


    I groaned, feeling a little relieved that I could sleep well thanks to the herbal tea Theo had given me after we spent some time watching crime dramas at twelve o''clock at night.


    I sat on the bed, tied my hair up, and got off the bed. My cell phone rang, and I picked it up. It was my mom.


    "H, Mama." I greeted as I walked out of the room and went to the kitchen.


    "H, Mi cari?o. Papa said you and Theo are in Los Angeles? With Abraham?"


    "Yes," I replied softly, sitting on the bar stool, watching Abraham, who was busy cooking. "I''m at Abraham''s house. In Malibu."


    "Didn''t you say you were living with your boyfriend?" she asked.


    "I used to. It was boring. I thought vacationing with my brothers would be more fun." I replied with a roll of my eyes while Abraham''s serious face rxed into a faint smile at me. I took the apple and ate it without washing it. Abraham shook his head and decided to refocus on his cooking.


    "Oh, Mis dulces beb¨¦s. All of you do need to spend more time together." she said, "I wish I were there. It would be more fun. Unfortunately, your Papa can''t leave his work." "Juste alone."


    "Well, he''ll whine like a child."


    Iughed, but then Mama asked to switch the call to Facetime. I epted and set the camera back, showing her eldest son cooking.


    "Abby!" my mom exims excitedly. Iugh while Abraham chuckles. He never liked that nickname. "What are you cooking?"


    "Sancocho." Abraham replied in a t voice. "And stop calling me that. I''m a thirty-two year old grown man."


    "I''ll probably stop doing it if you get married." Mama said. Myugh came out loud because of that, not caring about Abraham who was looking at me sharply at the moment.


    I pressed the front camera button, and my mom smiled at me. "How are you, Dannie? You didn''t pick up my calls yesterday,"


    "I''ve been busy, Mama." I took a big bite of my apple.


    "You have to understand her, Mama. She has a job now." Damien''s voicees from behind me.


    I turn around in surprise at him. "When did you arrive?"


    "Two a.m," He replied, his face looking like he had just woken up.


    "Why did youe here?" I asked.


    "I''m going on vacation, too," he replied. He picked up my phone and take my apple that I had bitten. He moved away while talking to Mama.


    I shook my head and took an apple again, but Abraham took it, washed it, and handed it to me. "Thank you. You''re the best." I said. "Where''s Theo?"


    "Gym."


    My three brothers did have different morning habits. Abraham would cook breakfast, Theo would work out: gym or running, while Damien would sleep and wake up at breakfast time. As for me, I''m like Damien. I''ll sleep until Mama wakes me up.


    When Damien returned, and they had finished talking, I grabbed a drink of water. "I''ve saved you. Again and again."


    "What?"


    "Mama says that she still doesn''t want you to work. If you still talk with her, I''m sure that you''ll argue again. So I''ve saved you by getting her to talk about something else."


    I finished my drink and kissed his cheek. "Thank you so much, you''re the best."


    Heughed amusedly. "You should treat meter."


    I frowned.


    "Breakfast is ready. Call Theo." Abraham said, stopping my grumbling.


    ****


    "Come on."


    "I don''t want toe if you guys are surfing." I shook my head, still sitting on my beach chair in my oversized ck t-shirt. I bend my knees and choose to eat the Arepas I made with Abraham earlier. Damien grunted, already standing in his tight, long-sleeved swimsuit. "Come on, it''ll be fun."


    "I said I don''t want to surf," I reply, looking at Abraham, who passes us. He''s carrying his surfboard.


    "It''s a jet ski. It''ll be fun." He replied.


    I frowned, looking at the people passing by on the water on their jet skis at a horrible speed. Theo was doing it, too. He had been going by himself since earlier. The others were taken a little way out of the surf zone to the nearshore, and then the man driving stopped suddenly, sending the woman wearing the life vest behind him into the water. I winced, but the womanughed after she surfaced. The activity was fun but terrifying. "There''s a shark over there."


    "I won''t throw you like that guy." Damien gave his smile.


    I frowned.


    "Come on," Damien coaxed again.


    I sighed, putting the half-cut arepas into my mouth. Heughed happily, then put a life vest on me. The lifeguard, whom I don''t recognize, drags Damine''s jet ski towards the beach. I followed Damien, climbing in behind him as he climbed before me. I held tight to his waist and screamed as he carried me at such a high speed. He made such a sharp maneuver it almost sent me tumbling into the water. But I held on tightly and decided to take him into the water when he did that again.


    Heughed loudly, asionally doing dangerous scenes by crashing into the waves and making us jump. I screamed because something in my chest seemed to be urging it toe out. It was out of excitement and mixed with fear of the megalodon shark that might appear.


    He led me towards the nearshore, maneuvered once more, and then walked straight into the waves of the surf zone, making a leap and making my grip on him lose control. I was thrown into the water, my eyes closing as I felt the seawater pierce my body as I went down almost to the shoreline since we were in a shallow surf zone.


    My eyes opened, staring at the beautiful coral reefs, the green and blue colors of the sun, and the few fish that moved away from the ripples as my body was thrown towards them before the buoy I was using brought me to the water''s surface quickly. I ran my hands through my hair and face, taking in oxygen quickly and gazing in all directions. Finding Damien, who stopped in the distance, looking at me with augh. I narrowed my eyes at him and I gave him the middle finger and yelled, "Fuck you," at him.


    Theo approached me on his jet ski. I offered my hand, and he pulled me along. I sat behind him, and he carried me around until I was away from the surf zone. I hugged him tighter and was terrified of the blue ocean below us. He stopped in deep water that seemed out of the safety zone and turned off the engine.


    "Don''t even think about dumping me here." I said sharply. "I will die eaten by Leviathan and I will haunt you all forever." I continued.


    I have somewhat different tastes than my three older brother. I love the beach but I am less obsessed than they are. I prefer the jungle. At the beach, I might just be swimming and snorkeling, but they were always doing things at the beach like it was second nature.


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    They often surf, fish in the middle of the ocean, or use transparent kayaks until they''re on the far part of the beach, sail with our yachts, or go around in circles on jetskis that only God knows where.


    They often do that together. Theo said it was a stress reliever. I used to freak out about what if.. somehow, their boat sank or the jet ski engine died in the middle of the sea, leaving them nowhere to go but stuck, and then drowning in the sea and then being eaten by sharks.


    Thankfully they alwayse back safely. Yet, I''m still a little scared if that happens. Man is not the master of everything. I''m afraid that God has other ns for them and is using the sea as an extension of his hand.


    Theo chuckled. "There is no Leviathan, Princessa."


    "We''ve only explored five percent of the sea. You''re saying things that are unfounded." I retorted. "Let''s get out of here. I''m already nauseous."


    "I want to dive." He said.


    "No!" I replied. "Come on, Theo."


    "Just a minute. He''s usually here," Theo mumbled.


    "Who?"


    "My friend."


    "Are you out of your mind?"


    Heughed softly and started the engine, but it died. Theo turned the key again, and it died again. The blood drained from my face. ¡°Theo¡±


    "This can''t be,"


    ¡°Theo...¡±


    "I think we should swim."


    "You''re insane. It''s not funny, Theo."


    "The engine''s not running, Danny." He said.


    I was about to cry when he turned to me over his shoulder. Looking at me worriedly. My heart was already beating fearfully inside my chest.


    The water was surging slightly,ing from a little further ahead of us. Somethin wasing.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I hugged Theo''s waist, who was interested in staring ahead. "What is it?" I whispered.


    "Look at it. It''s going to be so beautiful."


    My heart was beating loudly as we continued to watch the movement of the water ahead, but then a torrent of water came into view, and I gaped as the surface of the blue whale came. Its body parts took turns on the surface, and then finally, its tail, which it moved with such force that it made the water ssh.


    "What the fuck." I whispered and saw how the whale dived like a dolphin before going entirely back into the sea.


    Then, the whale appeared to leap out of the water, showing half of its body before returning to the water with a powerful movement that made the water crackle vigorously.


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    "I''m also happy to see you again, Bud," Theo said with a smile in his voice.


    "It was beautiful." I said even though we were shaken by the waves that the blue whale gave us.


    "Agreed," Theo''s voice was also full of admiration. Then he started the engine, and this time, it started smoothly. There was no more dead engine drama. "His name is Franky."


    "Franky? You named a whale, bud?" I asked with his nonsensical words.


    He steered the jet ski slowly back to shore. "Yeah. I found him when I was diving here. He got hurt from a fishing hook, so I took it off him, and he''s been my friend ever since. He knows when Ie, and he always apanies me when I fish here or just stay with the boat. So I named him Franky. He''s my friend at sea."


    "That''s really unexpected." His story didn''t make sense, but I knew that it wasn''t made up. He was a lover of nature, especially the sea. "You''re fit to be aquaman."


    "Many unexpected things can happen." He said before he picked up speed.


    Iughed and screamed as he jumped against the waves.


    ***


    After apanying Theo to meet his whale friend named Franky and snorkeling for two hours with Damien and Abraham, I rested on the balcony protected by a waist-high ss railing.


    I sat on the soft sofa bed, rxing while watching a movie with snacks and viewing the coastal horizon in the beautiful afternoon. There were two messages from Jason, asking how Joanna was, to which I replied that she was okay. After that, I didn''t respond to his messages anymore. I replied to a message sent by Joanna about her wanting to go to Malibu too, but her work was taking up a lot of time.


    I replied that we could take a trip to the beaches in Colombia that are just as beautiful as Malibu on the second of August because it was my mom''s birthday and my parent''s wedding anniversary.


    We always had a small dinner party with my family and a few of my parents'' best friends. Joanna hade to the party every year in the five years we''d been out of Mexico. It made her feel so epted by my parents, considering her parents were still trapped in Mexico, and we were still trying to get them out of there.


    I gazed out at the calm ocean.


    Even though Joanna''s parents were in Mexico City, I couldn''t rest easy with that. Papa had guaranteed their safety but was still trying to bring them here because of certain things.


    The tension between the Mexican cartel and the Colombian cartel was terrible and moreplicated than I thought. They could track Joanna''s parents and keep them trapped there for as long as possible. They can do anything, and they will track down anyone who tries to help Joanna''s family. Even Joanna had to send money to her family through James, her friend from wokr.


    Because, all of our official documents use our realst names, so we could be traced for seconds if we sent the money through an international bank.


    It would have been fine if Carlos Garcia had sent his henchmen to kill me in my family''s domain, but... it would have been a severe risk to Joanna''s family there. They could be victimized, they could be ckmailed, and they could be poorly used by Garcia.


    The risk is unbearable and heavy. Joanna could have lost her family if we hadn''t been careful or underestimated the risk. Now, we are still trying. My three brothers did, too. They helped Joanna sincerely all this time. They already consider Joanna as their other sister.


    I sighed and pressed the pause button on myptop as I wanted to focus more on the beautiful Pacific Ocean. There were only a few people on the beach, enjoying the sunset by sitting on the sand, just walking around, or surfing like my three brother were doing. Yeah, their morning''s depleted energy has been replenished by lunch and a two-hour nap. Now, they will probably continue surfing until midnight. I didn''t doubt it because I knew how weird they were. No wonder why they were brothers.


    I grabbed my phone and took a picture of them with the sunset horizon in the distance.


    Beautiful.


    Smiling, I stared at the photo for a long time.


    I want to feel this peace continuously. Surrounded by my family, and my lifelong bestfriends. Surrounded by people who love me without any danger lurking in our lives. Without the darkness waiting to pounce on us. When will that happen in the future? I don''t know. But I believe that it wille.


    Well, maybe I just have to try to survive and enjoy every pain thates and face all my fears and darkness.


    The peace..Yes, it wille.

 IX

    I woke up when my phone rang. Frowning with eyes that were still sticky, I stared at the Caller ID disyed on my phone, and I immediately sat up when I saw that it was Karem Masson. I immediately picked it up and forced my head to wake up. "Hello, Mr. Masson?" I greeted him first.


    "Good morning, Ms. Gomez. Sorry to disturb your sleep, I wanted to confirm about the offer we made to you one month ago." He replied kindly.


    "That''s okay. It''s already morning. I''m already awake. You can talk to me, Mr. Masson." I replied with a polite grin.


    "Okay, fine. So, based on our interview, I''m very satisfied with how thoroughly you answered my questions, and how much experience you''ve had. I am expecting you toe to Royal Ridge in Los Angeles, since that will be the center of ourpany in California."


    "Am I not working in San Francisco??"


    "Yes, you are, Ms. Gomez. But the head of the IT division is there, so he wants some of the people who have entered this recruitment to get together and discuss what preparations you''ll be making, and put together a framework. He''ll exin it in a small meeting."


    I nodded. "Okay, when is it?"


    "Monday at nine in the morning, Miss." He replied. "I''m sorry for telling you sote."


    "That''s okay. I happen to be in Los Angeles." I replied. "Well then, thank you for the information, Mr. Masson."


    "You''re wee, Ms. Gomez. Have a nice day."


    "You too."


    I cut off the call, and I sigh softly beforeying back down on the bed. It''s still seven in the morning, and I''m going to continue sleeping until Abraham wakes me up for breakfast. I could cook, but if Abraham was around, I would choose to bezy and let him do the cooking.


    So I closed my eyes again and let the darkness of my subconscious embrace me again.


    <<<


    *Magnan''sughter greeted me. Her smile was so wide. Beautiful and lovely. I chuckled as I watched her y in the meadow while I chose to sit and observe her. Then she saw me. Smiling widely, waving at me, inviting me toe with her.


    I chuckled, stood up, and started walking towards her.


    But herughter faded.


    I froze.


    There was no more light on her face. Her aura turned sinister. In front of me, the blood appeared through her hair, like it was creeping up to take over her face. I red.


    She stared at me nkly, a single tear escaping her.


    And I screamed.


    Loudly.*


    <<<


    "Danie!"


    My eyes opened, and I saw Theo''s worried face before me. I sat up quickly and brought myself to hug him. Burying my face in his chest, I take deep breaths to fill in the oxygen that seems to be missing from my lungs.


    My heartbeat was moving chaotically. My chest was so tight with pressure. I squeezed Theo''s T-shirt to vent it.


    Theo hugged me so tightly, striking my back and running his fingers through my hair, giving me enough peace of mind.


    "How many times this month?" Damien''s voice came from the other side.


    I turned to him without moving away from Theo''s chest. He was sitting on the side of the bed behind Theo, not far from us, and Abraham was leaning against the doorway. Anxiety and worry were on their faces, though Abraham was covered with a faint, cold calmness.


    "I don''t know..." I swallowed. "Three times." I paused. "Four times."


    "You should see a psychiatrist." Abraham said.


    "No, I won''t. I don''t want that." I denied him vehemently. "I''m not crazy!" I yelled at them. Drugs and being confronted by someone dressed in white, watching me like I had a chronic mental failure.. I didn''t want to do it. Theo stopped rubbing my back.


    "You''re not crazy," Abraham countered stressfully but gently. "You need help for that trauma."


    "I don''t have trauma. I don''t-"


    "Then why have you been taking panic attack medication all this time? And sleeping pills? That''s without a prescription too!" Abraham cut me off.


    I curled up in Theo''s arms, staring at Abraham who gave me a sharp look.


    Theo looked at our eldest brother, and gave him a sharp look back. "Be nice."


    "I... damn it," Abraham says like he can''t talk back to his brother.


    Now Damien started talking, looking at me gently. "Since when did you take that medicine? Where did you get them, Danny?"


    I swallowed, turning away from them, choosing to bury my face in Theo''s chest.


    Theo clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Get out, you two! Let me do this." I felt Theo''s head turn to them. "You are indeed ipetent brothers."


    I heard their steps and the sound of the door closing. I tightened my arms around Theo and sobbed into his chest again. He rocked our bodies gently for a long time until my crying subsided.


    Then he moved my head away from his chest, wiped away the tears on my cheeks, and chuckled. He handed me a ss of water that was always on the nightstand. I drank it down.


    "You''re getting ugly, Princesa." He said.


    I snorted and looked away while rubbing my cheeks.


    "What were you dreaming about?" Theo asked softly.


    I bit my lip, holding back the tightness in my chest that had eased. His reassurance affected me until I feltfortable telling him about my dream. "I saw Magnan," I paused to catch my breath. "She smiled at me before it all stopped." I swallowed painfully. "And I saw her face full of blood."


    Theo didn''t say anything. He just looked at me with a frown on his forehead and a long reflection. He sighed and released a faint smile. "You haven''t let her go yet, Princess."


    I didn''t know what to reply with because I knew that Theo was right. I wasn''t denying it. I had indeed not let go of Magnan''s death and could not bear the fact that her death was so tragic. I still can''t do that.


    "Let''s go, we should have breakfast." He said. "We''re going fishing in the middle of the sea." He said, and I widened my eyes. "Apanied by Franky."


    I red.


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    <<<


    I sat down with some trepidation beside the edge of the boat and gazed into the sea''s deep, dark blue depths. I shuddered in horror at the sight. Something in my head envisioned arge eye blinking at me. It wasn''t there, and only in my head, but I couldn''t help but feel a sense of horror inside while my second brother was sitting leisurely on a chair, holding the handle of his fishing rod while asionally taking a sip of the cappino I had made earlier.


    I sat next to him, and since there was no barrier before me, I backed away slightly. I was afraid of my crazy thoughts of going into the water and letting myself drown.


    "Are there no sharks here?" I asked.


    Theo turned to me and chuckled. "There are, Princesa." I winced in horror. "But don''t worry, the sharks won''t eat you." He reached out to pat my shoulder, giving it a soothing touch. "How can you be sure?"


    "Because you''re on the boat."


    I rolled my eyes at his unfunny joke. He chuckled in a voice that sounded just like our father. My three brother had the exact resemnce to our father from the sound of theirughter.


    Oh, I miss Papa so much.


    I took a deep breath, trying to ease the anxiety that was still lingering in my mind. My eyes returned to the dark sea, trying to convince myself that this was just the refreshing part Theo had rmended. The calm sea and the gentle sound of the waves should give me peace of mind.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    "Where''s Franky?"


    "He''s going toe." Theo replied casually.


    We''re already at the ce where we met Franky yesterday, although a little further away. But we''ve been here for almost an hour, and Franky hasn''t shown up yet. "Aren''t you going to call him?"


    "No need."


    "How did he know you were here, then?" I asked curiously.


    "Instinct, maybe." Theo replied, which sounded easy and perfunctory from his mouth.


    I frowned. "You''re never serious."


    Theo just sent me a yful grin before focusing on his small fishing rod.


    I scowled. "If I swim out here, will Franky eat me?"


    "Of course," he replied casually as if he was answering what was for lunch. I grimaced. "But you''d still be alive in his stomach because he wouldn''t chew you up."


    Like that was a good thing. "Why won''t he chew me up?"


    "Because you''re small." He replied.


    I snorted, and then I asked again. "What if the whale that''s been seeing you all this time isn''t Franky? What if it was another whale?"


    He shrugged his shoulders. "I love all whales. So I''m just fine with that."


    Hispletely casual and easy response sometimes annoyed me. I grunted at the thought of getting out of here, but a little ways away, I found a spray of water in front of us. Then, I saw the water''s surface moving gently against the calm waves. It was traveling towards us.


    Theo, who was already on the ship''s deck without a barrier, immediately moved towards the edge. I grimaced in horror at what if the whale opened its mouth and ate the boat and us because it''s mouth was so big.


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    I was already backing away when I heard Theoughing as he sat on the deck floor, putting his feet in the water.


    My second brother is really.. something.


    "Hello, bud." He greeted the whale like it was his friend. "Danny,e here. Say hello to him."


    I shook my head hard even though he wasn''t looking at me. "No, no, no. That whale will eat us." I squealed softly, unable to calm myself.


    "No, he''s a good boy."


    "No," my voice was like a squashed rat.


    Theo looked at me over his shoulder. "Come here, he wants to see you."


    I furrowed my brow. How could Theo understand that? Did the whale speak to him? Using telepathy? Or is Theo actually the real Aquaman who can understand thenguage of all sea creatures?


    I really couldn''t figure it out.


    "Danie." His voice was soft but forced.


    I walk slowly, my curiosity making me desperate even though my legs are shaking violently now. I inhaled, surprised at how giant the whale was and how small we werepared to this animal. It reminds me of how helpless I am. Franky stayed in front of Theo, asionally surfacing and then diving. Theo sat near his head, stroking the surface of Franky''s slick skin like he was petting a cat.


    "He''s going to eat us," I muttered in horror.


    Theo turned his head andughed once more. "Your meat is not good to eat."


    I shrugged, shuddering in horror at the magnificent, luxurious sight before me. I''d seen all sorts of whales on the inte and noticed how big they were in the sea. But now... I saw it in person.. it was amazing.


    "You haven''t seen anything bigger. He''s still a baby."


    I red. "And already this big?"


    "You''ll be surprised when you see an adult blue whale."


    "It''s really horrible." I crouched down with goosebumps all over my body, but my blood was pumping hard with excitement when Theo took my right hand and led it to the whale''s surface.


    I rubbed it. The surface was slippery, and I stroked it again. Pulling away as the whale spouted water through a small hole above it''s head, and then Franky was in the water again. The whale was just as still as if it knew it was Theo, his friend, who saved it from the fishing anchors of stupid sailors.


    "Wonderful," I whispered, my eyes traveling the length of the whale''s body, which was roughly almost twenty feet.


    Beautifully breathtaking.


    "See?" said Theo. "He''s a good boy."


    I sighed and stroked the surface of Franky''s skin again before it returned to it''s deep dive beneath our ship.


    The whale pped its tail, making a strong ssh of water over us.


    Iughed, along with Theo.


    And damn, how my heart swells at this work of nature.


    <<<

 X

    "I hope everything goes well," Theo said.


    I nodded and waved goodbye to Theo and Abraham, who were sitting at the back. Abraham nodded while Damien lowered the back of his chair and slept peacefully.


    "Don''t forget to call us when you''re done." Abraham said in his cold, authoritarian voice.


    I nodded again, exited Abraham''s Range Rover, and entered therge building. It matched the address Royal Ridge had emailed me yesterday, but why was it this big? It''s so luxurious. However, from what I saw on the inte, they were still using a rented building because their building was still under construction.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Has the building beenpleted? Why is it so fast?


    Taking a breath and letting it out slowly, I tried to suppress my nervousness, squeezing my cold, sweaty hands and biting my lip. I nodded to the security guard, who smiled politely at me, and I entered the lobby. My eyes blinked wildly, and I marveled for a few seconds in amazement at how exclusive the contents of this building were.


    Is this some kind of rental building like the one owned by Damien?


    Maybe.


    I walked to the reception desk and said, "I came for the Royal Ridge IT team seminar."


    "On whose behalf, miss?"


    "Danie Gomez."


    The employee typed my name into theputer and nodded. The employee, with her hair in a neat bun, smiled at me. "It''s on the fourth floor. You can take the elevator and enter the first door on the first hallway," she said. "If you''re still confused, you can ask the guard there, Miss Gomez." I smiled. "Thank you." "You''re wee."


    I went to the elevator, where a few people were waiting, and checked the time on my watch. It was still ten minutes away. Well, it''s better to wait than bete. Luckily, there was no more drama this morning. Everything went on as normal. The four of us had breakfast Abraham''s cooking, of course, and then they nned to go to the racetrack in Los Angeles. I wanted to go with them, but well, I couldn''t because I had to attend this seminar.


    We enter, and one of the bespectacled women with bobbed hair in front of me is already pressing the fourth-floor button. She looks at me for a few seconds before speaking. "Are you the newly hired Royal Ridge project IT team?" she asks. I nodded, giving her a smile. "Yes, you too?"


    She nodded. "Nice to meet a friend. I''ve been alone all this time." She whispered.


    The elevator doors opened before I could reply. Only the two of us got out, and I ask her, "Are you from San Francisco too?"


    The girl nodded while folding her lips. She seemed to be a shy girl.


    I offered my hand, "My name is Danie Gomez. Call me Danie."


    "I''m Elsa James. Call me Elsa." She returned my handshake. "The receptionist said the first door is in the first hallway, right?" she asked.


    I nodded. There were two hallways here, both on our right side and on our left side was the office and the hallway leading to the bathroom. The guard standing in the first hallway stepped towards us.


    "Are you guys here for the seminar?"


    We nodded.


    "Come on, this way," he said, ushering us right into the first hallway and door. He opened the big door for us.


    I walked in, not forgetting to throw a polite smile and a thank you. Elsa did the same.


    The meeting room was vast, as is typical of meeting rooms inrgepanies in general, and it made me wonder: Is this actually a rented building, or does it belong to Royal Ridge?


    Seven people were already upying the seats around the table, and six seats were left. Three were on the left, which was for the team, and the other three were on the right, near a presentation screen, which was for the team leader. Elsa and I sat in one of them behind two men.


    "What is this building?" I asked Elsa quietly. "Do you know about it?"


    "Royal Ridge rents this building from Scavi Titanio." She replied in a hushed tone. "You know thatpany, right?"


    I shook my head softly.


    "It''s the richest miningpany in Europe." She whispered. "Which has also controlled the American mining market. You really don''t know?"


    I shook my head again. "I''m not very up to date with business orpany news." I replied. "No wonder this building is so luxurious."


    "Scavi Titanio is a sole proprietorship, so maybe that''s why thepany''s profits can be used freely to polish theirpany buildings with beauty and luxury."


    I frowned, not understanding what the difference between the two types was about. All I knew was earning money by being a corporate ve. I never learned that. "Who''s the owner?"


    "Italian." Elsa answered.


    This made me shaky because,tely, many Italian-rted things have intersected with my life. "He must be wealthy. What''s his name?"


    She was about to answer, but therge door opened, revealing a tall blonde man in a gray suit. He smiled at us and gave a slight nod before finally sitting in the center seat in front of us. It was just him. The other two seats were empty. "Good morning everyone," he greeted us kindly.


    "Good morning," we replied in unison.


    "So, no need for pleasantries. I''m Kennan Jonas, the team leader of this project, and I look forward to your cooperation. I guarantee you won''t be disappointed in joining us to build Royal Ridge''s information system." He said. "At the end of this project, you can also be a permanent employee at Royal Ridge with a fairly high sry, and a better life. But here first. We''ll talk about our framework, and what we''ll be doing."


    I listened carefully to every word spoken by Kennan Jonas. He exined in detail about the vision and mission of this project, as well as our respective roles in building Royal Ridge''s information system. I felt a little nervous but also excited. This was an excellent opportunity for me, a chance to prove my worth and possibly have a better career.


    I was even thinking about how I would show off to my mom when I got my paycheck after all these years of her holding me back. She''s bound to be even more upset by that.


    After Kennan finished his introduction, he started introducing the rest of the team. I carefully noted their names and positions, trying to remember as much as possible. This introduction sessionsted for a few minutes before Kennan started discussing the project structure.


    "Okay, let''s start by discussing the framework," Kennan said as he pulled out some documents and handed them out to us. "Here is an outline of the tasks and targets we should achieve in the next few months. This will be our guide." I opened the document and started reading it. It looked pretty challenging, but I was confident I could handle it. Kennan exined each section clearly, making sure we all understood what was expected of us. Elsa, who was sitting next to me, was seriously taking notes, so I followed her lead.


    "Each of you will have specific responsibilities," Kennan continued. "However, we will work as a team, supporting each other and ensuring that every part of this project runs smoothly. Any questions so far?"


    One of the men in front of me raised his hand. "What about the timeline of this project? Do we have a strict deadline?"


    Kennan nodded. "Yeah, sure. We have a pretty tight, but realistic timeline. You can see it in the document on page three. We have milestones to achieve every month."


    I opened the page in question and looked at the detailed schedule. This was going to be a long but exciting journey. After a few more questions from the other team members, Kennan decided to move on to the next session. "Now, we''re going to talk about the technology and tools we''ll be using," he said. "I want to make sure everyone is familiar with these before we start. Anyone not familiar with the technologies listed on page five?"


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    I looked at the list of technologies that would be used and was quite familiar with them. Several other team members also nodded their heads in agreement.


    "Good," Kennan said. "Then, let''s start with the division ofbor. Danie, you''ll work with Elsa on frontend development. You two will focus on the user interface and make sure it''s responsive and user-friendly."


    I nodded, feeling excited to be working with Elsa. She seemed intelligent and passionate. Elsa also smiled at me as if she was happy with this division.


    After distributing the tasks to everyone, Kennan ended the meeting with some motivational words. "Remember, this is a great opportunity for all of us. Let''s work hard and show that we are capable. I believe in all of you."


    We all nodded in agreement. After the meeting ended, Elsa and I walked out together.


    "Looks like we''ll be working together a lot," I said to her with a smile.


    "Yes, I think about that too," she replies. "I''m happy to be working with you, Danie."


    I feel the same excitement. It''s not a bad start and doesn''t seem too stressful. I''m used to doing my job description because that''s what I put on my CV.


    "You can have lunch at the cafeteria in the lobby," the voice of Kennan, our team leader, from behind startled me.


    Elsa and I looked up at him with a friendly smile, ncing between the two of us. "Isn''t that for staff only?" Elsa asked.


    Kennan chuckled. "It''s free for anyone. You guys are Royal Ridge employees, so you have higher ess."


    I grimaced.


    "Everything is free for employees, and you too." He said. "Come on, we''ll have lunch together."


    I opened my mouth when I heard there was free food. We agreed toe along. Kennan Jonas also brought along some team members who had just left. Having only met him for two hours, I already found a good leader in him. No doubt he was appointed for this project.


    We went down to the main floor and walked to therge cafeteria at the end of the office building. The cafeteria was like a restaurant, and from the menus lined up, I''m sure it held all the food I liked. I sighed. Unfortunately, I was going to be working in San Francisco, and the Royal Ridge office in Damien''s building was an ordinary, iplete cafeteria. I''ll urge Damienter to make the cafeteria like this.


    We took a spot with a slightly longer table than the others. Some people are looking, and I''m honestly nervous. But I''m not the only one being looked at, so there''s no problem with that. I take a chair and sit down, Elsa taking the seat to my


    left.


    "Danie, right?" said the man sitting on my right.


    I looked at him and smiled. "Nice to meet you... Tomas, right?" I asked because when Kennan was handing out the assignments earlier, I paid attention to the names Kennan mentioned and memorized them in my head.


    "Nice to meet you too." After that, she introduced herself to Elsa, and we introduced each other to the other six people on the team. Then, we chatted about mundane and random things.


    I ate the chicken tandoori in front of me with gusto. We all did.


    "So roughly, sir." A woman named Sascha started the conversation that had stalled. "Where will the Royal Ridgepany be built in San Francisco? Will it be as luxurious as thispany?"


    "Of course it will be luxurious. It''s not far from the Civic Center. You will see itter." Kennan replied. "And I forgot to tell you, when you are in San Francisco, you will be working in thispany building too, not in Rodrigo''s Building." He continued.


    Next to me, Tomas raised his eyes. "Woah. I''m sure that will be a lot of fun."


    "Why not at Rodrigo''s Bulding anymore?" I asked.


    "Because the owner of Royal Ridge is a good friend of the owner of Scavi Titanio. I don''t know what the reason is for moving thepany there, but I''m sure Mr. Scuderi isn''t making a bad decision." He said.


    I nodded in understanding.


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    "Who is the owner of Scavi Titanio? Why is he so willing to rent out their building to amodate us? Doesn''t he have anything to lose?"


    "He''s so rich. Have you ever heard of Bernardi?"


    I froze.


    "Yeah, Zane Bernardi. I''ve heard of him but I''ve never seen his face." One of the guys replied.


    "Well, he owns Scavi Titanio." Kennan replied.


    My blood seemed to flow from my face.


    "So he owns twopanies? That oilpany and this miningpany?" Elsa asked in surprise.


    "Yes. That''s why he''s willing to amodate his friend''s employees. He''s so rich." Kennan replied.


    Meanwhile, my eyes were foggy, and my heart seemed to fall into my stomach. I swallowed, looking at them one by one.


    "I need to use the restroom for a moment. Please, excuse me."


    They nodded, excusing me.


    And I exited the cafeteria, walking quickly to the restroom. There was no need to bother as a sign was at the top. I went into one of the cubicles and vomited. Nausea twisted my stomach, and my heart tightened. It''s him again.


    Zane Bernardi again.


    I closed my eyes. I slumped down in front of the toilet and let out a rough breath.


    How could this be such a coincidence? Why? I''ve already had the misfortune of finding out that he''s my boyfriend''s brother, and now he''s also the owner of thepany. Where will we be workingter? Didn''t my brothers say that he can''t touch California? Why does it seem like he''s controlling this state now?


    I ran a hand through my hair andposed myself.


    No, he doesn''t.


    Among so many people, he won''t find me. Yes, that''s all. I''m just an employee, and he''s the big boss of twopanies and a disgusting Don of the cosa nostra. He wouldn''t bother with just a shrimp in front of his eyes. Yeah.


    I calmed myself down before exiting the toilet cubicle. I stepped out of the bathroom and walked through the long hallway, but my steps stopped when I saw that familiar face.


    He was in the lobby talking to another man.


    Zane Bernardi.


    He was here.

 XI : Disaster

    My heart, beating loudly in my chest, was messing up all my nerves. He was standing in the lobby surrounded by several people, yet all eyes were on him, who always looked different. He was the attention stealer.


    I blinked my eyes quickly and walked slowly. Trying to blend in and be invisible while heading to the cafeteria, where everyone was already stealing nces at the lobby where the richest man in the world was. Like Franky going against the water flow, I did the same. I walked opposite from where they were, who looking at the lobby behind me, and I tried to control myself every step of the way. Running into an enemy that destroys me, is something that drains my energy. I didn''t even know if I could destroy him like the idea I had once designed or not. Because now I can''t even look at his face. My body is already trembling so violently.


    Zane Bernardi... is really terrible.


    I sat in my chair while the people around me talked about Zane Bernardi.


    The faces around me began to bustle, talking about Zane Bernardi''s arrival. Some people looked impressed, while others looked at him with fear and awe. I tried to focus my mind on what was going on around me, trying to ignore Zane''s presence.


    Kennan was already standing, "Mr. Scuderi and Mr. Bernardi are talking over there. I thought I should say hello to them. You guys enjoy your lunch."


    We let our team leader go and then talked about how excited they were to see Zane Bernardi''s face while I pondered in my chair.


    Elsa looked at me with concern. "Are you okay, Danie?"


    I tried to smile, though it felt stiff. "Yes, I''m fine. Just a little shocked."


    Elsa nodded understandingly, but I could see the doubt in her eyes. She must have sensed the tension I was feeling.


    When Kennan returned to our table, he brought some surprising news. "Zane Bernardi will be the main sponsor of this project," he said with a smile. "We have the great fortune to have the support of one of the richest figures in the world." I swallowed. Was this a stroke of luck or a curse? Zane Bernardi, a man who was involved in my life in so many ways, would now be part of a project that would shape my future.


    Lunch continued, but I was having trouble concentrating. My mind kept drifting to Zane and all the secrets hidden behind us. How could I work properly if the shadows of my past kept haunting me?


    I typed a message to Theo, telling him that I was ready and that they should pick me up as soon as possible. I didn''t want to linger here.


    Zane Bernardi is around.


    "Are you going straight home, Danie?" asks Elsa when we''ve finished our lunch.


    I nodded. "Are you staying at the hotel?"


    Elsa shook her head. "I came from San Francisco this morning by ne, and now I''m going straight home to San Francisco again."


    "Very practical. You don''t have to stay in a hotel anymore."


    "Well, I like the practical life. What about you? Are you staying in a hotel?"


    I shook my head. "My brother lives here, I stay at his house."


    "He works here?"


    "Yeah, as an ountant." I grimace. Abraham would be furious if he heard me right now.


    "It''s nice to have family here. You can take a vacation at the beach anytime." She said.


    I just chuckled not knowing what to reply with. As we walked out of the cafeteria together, I sighed in relief that that asshole Zane Bernardi wasn''t there anymore.


    "My taxi''s here, I''ll go first, Danie. See you in San Francisco." Elsa tells me with a big smile when we''re outside the lobby.


    I waved goodbye to her. "See you soon. Take care."


    I walked outside the courtyard of this building. To the bus stop on the side of the road, waiting for my three asshole brothers to pick me up. My chest was already rumbling chaotically. My hands were already breaking out in cold sweat from fear. Fear that, somehow, Zane Bernardi would find me and then take me away.


    I sat up uneasily, biting my lip firmly, and looked around me. There were a few people walking around. Ordinary people who... I frowned when one of them stole a nce at me.


    Well, ordinary people who are my father''s men.


    I sighed in relief because of that, I would be safe. Zane Bernardi wouldn''t touch me here.


    The lightning metallic range rover came at a speed that would make me grumble when I was in it. I walked straight to the front passenger seat and got in.


    My breathing wasbored as I leaned against the back of the seat.


    "Why?" Abraham asked calmly. "Something happened? You got fired?" he asked again as we Theo led us away from thepany.


    "No." I replied. "Just in bad luck." I don''t want to tell the truth.


    "What exactly is that building? Is the Royal Ridge building finished?" Damien asked.


    I sighed. "Its a rental building." I said casually. "Like the one you own."


    "Who owns it?" Abraham asked.


    It surprised me that he didn''t know who owned the miningpany. "You don''t know? You live here."


    "It''s like I never cared." He replied.


    "I don''t know either."


    It was a safe answer. Yes, safe.


    In no time, we were in Malibu, in Abraham''s home. The expensive pink car made me frown. "Ariana''s here? Why is she here?" I asked.


    "When I told her you wereing on vacation too, she got excited. She wanted toe with us." Theo answered.


    All three of us shot Theo a re and I snorted. Ariana was our cousin, living in Sacramento, being a sociolite with an expensive lifestyle using the money of her rich husband, who was her father''s business rtive. Well, her father was my father''s brother, who was also involved with the Colombian cartel business. So... we were a Colombian mafia family living in California with impunity.


    She was annoying, talkative and wild. I can get along with her but sometimes I get tired of keeping up with her never-ending activities. She always had the energy for trouble. And I love her.


    "H, babes!" Ariana yelled to us.


    I smiled in horror waving at her. This time she''s wearing a pink t-shirt with white pants, five-inch high heels and her shoulder-length blond hair. There was a round hat wrapped around her, covering her face full of makeup. She''s like a living barbie, minus the random and frenzied behavior, and the chatty mouth.


    She hugged me tightly, shaking me and jumping up and down like we had been separated for twenty years.


    "I''m so happy to see you," she kissed my right cheek and left cheek. I red in horror at my three brothers who were stiflingughter. Even Abraham who was known as Rodriguez''s coldest man.


    "Me too, Ariana." I replied.


    "But why didn''t you tell me you were going to Los Angeles for a vacation with these three idiots?" she asked in an annoyed and adorable voice that she made up.


    I gave a fakeugh. "Yeah, I... I was spur of the moment. Theo asked me, and then Damien came along."


    "Ah, Theo invited me too." She replied.


    "Where''s your pathetic husband, Ariana? Why are you alone?" asked Damien as he approached.


    "He''s on a business trip with my father. He''ll catch up tomorrow." Ariana replied, pursing her lips and then she looked at me. "So we can have some fun together! We''ll go to a club and get drunk tonight." She whispered to me. "Good. I''ll tell Ronan now and say that his wife screwed up."


    "Don''t be an asshole, Damien." She says. "Well, you are an asshole. But hold that for one night. Look at your sister here," Ariana looked at Abraham and Theo who had been silent all this time. "Look at your sister, her face is filled with pressure and there are wrinkles everywhere from the stress of dealing with your behavior. She needs some freedom with me. With a hangover of course."


    "We''lle." Abraham replied with finality.


    But Ariana was the stubborn one who never feared anyone. Even if it was my creepy first brother. "No. No, you won''t. We need some me time. Just me and Danie. You can go fuck yourself."


    "Oh God," I sighed. "Come on,e on in. I''m sure you''ve been waiting outside for ages and hungry."


    She scowls, and then grumbles as she wraps her arm around mine, dragging me towards the entrance of Abraham''s house. "Yeah, I waited for you guys for an hour. My make up is smudged now."


    <<<


    "Which club are we going to?" I asked as I watched her busy getting dressed in front of the mirror in the guest room of Abraham''s house.


    She was already dressed, with her trademark: a tight pink dress, and five-inch heels, blonde hair left loose and red lips. I... I was wearing casual clothes. Just a tight t-shirt, cardigan, and short jeans. Not too frumpy to fit into a club and not too sexy either. I just patted my hair carelessly because I was only there to drink alcohol and get my head drunk until I forgot everything, not to find a guy to fuck.


    "You''ll find outter," she gave me a mischievous smile. "Where the tourists are, the exclusive ones, the ones by the beach, and the ones that only the high-ss people can go to."


    "Are you sure the men there aren''t filled with old men?"


    Arianaughed out loud. It did not entuate her appearance. Sheughed like a goat begging for food. "You''ll find outter." She said.


    "You know that I already have a boyfriend."


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    "Ah sure, that Italian." She shrugged. "It''s okay. You guys are only temporary anyway, our family doesn''t like Italians. So you can look for a backup from now on."


    I shook my head andughed.


    "Oh,e on, you''re twenty-six years old. In two more years you''ll end up being married off to a man of granpa''s or your father''s choice. You''ll suffer for it. You can find one now and save it for two more years of marriage." "God, you''re so far off, Ari."


    "I like to think, Danny."


    We looked at each other andughed.


    Five minutester we were ready, Ariana running her car while giving a distant peck to Theo and Abraham who were standing on the porch, ring at us for not being able toe.


    I waved goodbye to them. My three brothers weren''t really against me. They were silent and seemed to agree. Probably because they understood that I needed a little freedom and alcohol to calm myself down. They were aware of my nightmares, of the past that haunted me. So for tonight they let me have some fun with our wild cousins.


    Well, we''re going have a good night.


    <<<


    The club was dark, and elegant. There were several luxury cars lined up in the parking lot and two burly men guarding the door.


    We both went up to them, and Ariana gave them her ess card. We entered when one of the men nodded, and opened therge doors to us. Then, dim lights, loud music with heavy bass, and lots of people.. greeted my vision. I cast my eyes this way and that and found no familiar faces. Well, who could I expect?


    Ariana led me to the circr sofa at the far end, next to the dance floor, and then called out to the waiter.


    "Burbon." I said to the male waiter.


    "Two burbons." Ariana said. She swayed to the music, and looked up at me with a big smile. "This is fun."


    "I will dance when I''m drunk."


    She patted her chest. "I''ll take care of you. Take it easy."


    I winced at that. Usually, she would be the one drunk and I would drag her along the way to the car.


    Our order came, and I took a swig from the bottle. My tolerance for alcohol was pretty good since I used to be an employee at an alcohol tavern in Mexico, so well, I seemed to finish at least two bottles of Burbon.


    The club does look elegant, decorated in ck and gray, and it also matches the people whoe. I''m sure there aren''t any cheap bitches approaching everyone here, surely all of them are exclusive and wille if booked by any man who wants to vent their desires.


    I took another sip of burbon, reading the iing message that came from Jason. I ignored it, and put my phone in my pants pocket.


    "How''s your rtionship with that Italian guy?" Ariana asked.


    "Fine." I replied. I shrugged.


    Ariana chuckled. "It''s fine. Which means it''s normal, right?"


    "Well, isn''t it a safe rtionship? Away from fights and pointless stuff?"


    "Yeah," she nodded. "It just means that you don''t love him. Or you guysck love." She continued. Just like I''d heard from Joanna.


    I frowned. "That''s healthy."


    "It''s boring."


    "You''re not in your right mind if you say that toxic rtionships are good and not boring." I grumbled.


    Arianaughed. "It''s not like that, stupid." She said. "I mean rtionships don''t always go straight. They go up and down. Bickering. Possessive. Adventures. Great sex."


    I made a disgusted expression.


    "It was thrilling, and passionate."


    "Not all of them are like you."


    "Well, maybe." She replied. "But at least my rtionship with Ronan wasn''t t."


    I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah whatever." I took another sip of my bourbon. "I have to go to the restroom. One second."


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    "Okay."


    I stood up, moving past the many people to the hallway where the restroom sign was. I went in there, and entered one of the toilet cubicles. Sitting on the toilet and dumping the water in my dder. When I was done, I came out and my heart jerked at the man standing leaning against the door.


    Zane Bernardi.


    In his casual clothes.


    A short ck t-shirt that lets me see the muscles in his arms and jeans. His hair was messy, and his face looked at me with a sweet smile.


    His dimples appeared.


    It makes me want to punch him


    "Hello to you, Miss gomez, or.. Rodriguez?" He said, tilting his head. "It''s so nice to see you again."


    I stepped back, my eyes widening at the sight of Zane Bernardi in front of me.


    I opened my mouth. "You..."


    "We haven''t spoken since we first met," he smirked. "Ah, I stand corrected. We haven''t spoken since we met again at my parents'' party."


    I stepped back, looking at him sarcastically. "I don''t want to talk to you."


    "But, why? I''ve been dying to meet you for the past five years." He took a step forward.


    I tried to calm myself down. "I''ve been dying to get you out of my head because of the destruction you''ve brought to my life since five years ago." I said. "I''ve wanted to punch you in the face for what you''ve taken from me." I stepped forward, towards him who was standing with a smirk on his face, and I punched him hard in the face. Until he cracked his face.


    "Phew. This hurts." He said casually. "Where are your muscles? How can you hide those muscles under your small hands?"


    I was about to punch him again but he caught my hand. He stepped forward making our front bodies touch. It stopped when my back hit the wall, he was in front of me, so close that our chests met. His face lowered to line up with mine. "You have a grudge against me, don''t you?" he asked. "Even though I really liked your first night that you gave me." He continued.


    "Fuck you."Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Before I could do anything else to him, he had already covered my lips with his. Both of his hands were on the jawline of my face. Pressing my head to stay still. He kissed me as if he already owned me, had the deeds to prove it, and marked me for the world to see. He tightened his grip on my jaw and pushed my head back so he could get deeper, closer, to the part of me I couldn''t reach.


    Goosebumps came through me. Invading me with strange, wild jolts. I''d never felt like this with Jason. And now... his brother was giving me another jolt. Another vor. Something that had been buried deep in my heart. Something that I had closed tightly.


    He was my first kiss. Five years ago he had everything inside me.


    Now...


    I was his brother''s lover.


    And he is the man who killed Magnan!


    This..this doesn''t make sense.


    I jerk away and his hands wrap around my neck, to give him better control. He guided me backwards as his lips imed mine, now they turned soft and sensual, yet possessive and demanding at the same time. My heart was pounding, but I didn''t know which instinct was more urgent. I can''t see where I''m going and I don''t know. I gasp into his mouth.


    It should have been anger, but it was something else. Fascination rose in my loins as he dominated my mouth, still holding tightly to my hair. The kiss gets worse when he uses my hair to pull my head back.


    Then he buried his face in the crook of my neck. I shuddered at the sensation of his warm breath on my sensitive skin. My nerve endings came alive when he pressed his lips there, but I pushed him away. "You''re fucking nuts." I snapped at him.


    He took my lips again, again messing up my mouth with his wild kisses. But now I rebelled with all my might. The lost pieces of my mind were back as I pushed against his strong chest.


    I had studied martial arts with Damien. It was a good thing for me to use at times like this.


    Zane Bernardi walked away with a messy face that was fucking handsome. He was about to get in my face again but I lifted my leg. Kicking something between his legs.


    He bent over, with a roar of pain.


    I chuckled. "Nice to meet you too." I said with a sigh.


    I moved away from the toilet, and ran outside.


    >>>

 XII : Wrong

    I couldn''t find Ariana. The girl was already so drunk on the dance floor, I was in trouble. I was miserable, and dizzy. Don''t know what to do. I can''t get out of here without Ariana, and she''s having fun on the dance floor while I... I just fought my enemy who harassed me! Again!


    My breath came out loudly as I gulped down a burbon from my bottle. I propped my head up with my elbow and stared sadly at the dance floor.


    I took another sip of my bourbon because my head was so stressed.


    Zane Bernardi.


    That guy...


    Fuck that guy!


    "Your kick hurts so much. You have to take responsibility about it." That low voice sent shivers down my spine.


    I closed my eyes, breathing out heavily. "That''s because you''re an asshole." I looked up and stared at him standing next to me. Staring at me with eyes that were misty under the dim lights of this club. "Go away, I want to have fun." "I want to have fun with you," he said.


    Zane Bernardi is...a different species. "I don''t want to."


    "If you don''t want to... I''ll tell my brother that you didn''te home to take care of your friend who got into an ident. That you were in Los Angeles. For three days, and fooling around in clubs," there was a pause, he lowered his body making his lips an inch away from my ear. "That you kissed me. Guess what, what he''s going to do? He''s going to be so disappointed. Oh my poor brother." He continued.


    I opened my mouth, looking at him. Being an inch away from his face allowed me to see him clearly. His eyebrows were thick, his green eyes looking at me intensely, still like the Tongass forest in ska. Home. The one that was destroyed. A sh of memory of our hot night he gave me loomed in my eyes. I still remember. The vivid sting of how he touched me and spoiled me. Pleased me. Before I fell back to the ground and discovered that happiness was a false thing. "You missed me," he said.


    "I hate you." I replied. I looked down at the dance floor. "I don''t know what your motive is for doing this to me, so tell me, or I''ll punch you in the dick again."


    He chuckled softly. "You''ll be disappointed you can''t use it, Cara Mia." He continued, and then closed the distance between us by sitting beside me.


    His dominant, overpowering presence distracted me. My head throbbed from the alcohol that had started to work its way into my system.


    I couldn''t get drunk in this man''s presence. In the past, I was drunk on love and passion, and it ended with him messing me up. Now I can''t get drunk because he''ll take advantage of that too. I should stay away from him. He''s my enemy. "How can you be here freely? Don''t you know that my parents'' authority is here?" I asked. "I could report you to my father and you''d be finished. You touched me." I emphasized thest word, I looked at him withplete hatred while taking a sip of my burbon.


    He smirked, "Just say the word, and we''ll see what happens. Who will go to the ground first."


    I winced.


    "Danie Rodriguez.." he hummed, still the same as five years ago. "..never thought I''d see you again. In this way." He continued. His eyes looked at me deeply, intensely, intoxicatingly.


    My heart was already moving chaotically inside my chest. I grinned. "You''re happy to meet your enemy? Who is none other than your brother''s girlfriend as well?" I retorted, not wanting to look vulnerable because if he saw me vulnerable, then he would destroy me. "What would he say if in fact it was his brother who kissed me first?"


    His eyes darkened, looking at me with the darkness ofplete passion. I took another sip of my burbon.


    "Tell him," he said lowly. "It would destroy your rtionship, and I''d be happy to sneak in between you. Perhaps, steal you again."


    I swallowed. "What do you want from me?"


    He smiled slowly, sending a jolt of madness through me. "You''re getting prettier," he didn''t answer my question. "Bold. Sexy." His eyes dropped to my chest that was covered by my tight T-shirt. I moved away from him, but his arm was around my waist, pulling me to make me move closer to him. "Still sloppy." He whispered in front of my face. "Getting more attractive."


    The mint and musk scent of his body takes me hostage, my eyes are foggy and all I can think about now is that night. I was drunk, damn it.


    "Don''t you want a repeat of that night, Rodriguez?¡± he whispers in a seductive voice. "I promise I won''t leave you in the morning." He continued.


    I shook my head, rebelling against him, trying to get away but the circle of his arms around my waist strengthened. "We are enemies." "Enemies have never looked so attractive until now." He said, his voice so heavy, the timbre suffocating, raspy and beautiful. "Until you."


    "I want nothing to do with you, Bernardi the bastard." I looked at him sharply.


    "But you''re with my brother?"


    "I''ll break up with himter, because I don''t want anything to do with Bernardi." I replied.


    "That''s a shame," His voice sounded like contrived sadness. "Though I guarantee you''ll have a wonderful evening when you''re with this Bernardi." He pointed to himself.


    I winced, and tried to rebel again. He moved his face forward.


    "You have no idea how happy I was to find you again."


    "I''m sure you''ve already nned how the dramatic plot of killing me will go." I said.


    "Oh, cara mia," His voice was deep and low. I hated it so much. "You''re too beautiful to be killed." He continued.


    I took a breath and let it out softly, staring at his thick lips and beautiful green eyes. My defenses were like spaghetti strings that were prone to breaking, and he was pressing me more and more. His thumb touched my lower lip, stroking it, and I closed my eyes. The fog had taken over my mind, the effects of alcohol taking me out of my senses.


    His touch is intoxicating. Hypnotizes me.


    Sent a cold jolt through my bloodstream.


    And it was even more terrifying when his lips pressed against mine again. Sucking me in so hard, his lips found mine again. But this time his kiss dominated the situation, just as he had already done, crashing into me and bringing down my walls. His tongue caressed the seam of my lips, searching for a way in.


    I closed it, preventing him from kissing any further. He bites my lower lip in a silent request for me to open up to him. His teeth scraped and pulled, making me groan at the feeling.


    I grabbed a handful of his t-shirt as he bent me backwards. Caught between the zing fire and the mes on my back, I clung to him. He slipped past my defenses, using my surprise against me. When he slipped his tongue onto mine, he groaned, the sound vibrating in my chest and sending hot sparks to my skin.


    He ate me, taking everything he could. His mouth was a weapon, and he used it to crush me until I closed my eyes and returned his touch. God, it was wrong, so wrong, and I hated it, but I couldn''t stop my nipples from tightening or the goosebumps that danced through my body as he kissed me. A moan escapes me, and he runs his hands through my hair, pulling my head back and bringing his mouth to mine. Fuck. I''mpletely drunk.


    Owned. This is what it feels like to be owned by someone else. I''ve never felt anything like it. Not with Jason. The thought sent a huge wave of shame through me.


    I pushed against his hard chest. He didn''t give up, still taking everything he wanted. It felt good, but I knew it was wrong. Everything in me rebelled, and I looked away. He growled, moving away from me and smiling at me with his charming face darkened.


    "It''s only eight in the evening."


    "What?"


    His hand was on my neck, and .... like a switch being turned off.


    Darkness invaded me.


    <<<


    My eyes moved faintly. I could just wake up from my faint-like sleep. I closed my eyes again, groaning when I felt my head so dizzy, and my body heating up.


    I opened my eyes, this time my vision was very clear. In front of me was a wide ss wall that showed the city at night. I frowned, the rooms in Abraham''s house were not like this, the view in Abraham''s house was the beach and the ocean. I blinked.


    One second.


    Two seconds.


    Three seconds.


    My mind crawled slowly, making me realize what was happening.


    I was sleeping naked, just my underwear. And also the dizziness that hit my head was so strong when I tried to raise my head. I was lying on my side with my elbows supporting my weight. My eyes glow in this dark luxurious spacious room, as I pull up the thick nket to cover my bare chest. I looked at the clock on the nightstand that read nine o''clock in the evening.


    Where am I?


    "Ah, earlier than I thought,"


    My gaze is drawn to the origin of the voice in front of the bed, my breath catching as I look at the man in front of me.


    Zane fucking Bernardi.


    "Why am I here?" I asked, fighting the pain in my throat.


    Zane Bernardi was sitting quietly on the couch, watching me. His calm face and dominant aura pierced something deep inside me. His grin made my guard up.


    Zane... I was at that club, he insisted on kissing me. I was drunk and then I didn''t remember anything.


    "What are you doing to me? Where are my clothes?!" I yelled at him.


    Zane chuckled in response. He got up from his seat and allowed me to get a good look at him.


    Zane was still wearing a ck t-shirt. His ck hair looked messy, yet sexy. I really couldn''t wrap my head around all the things inside me because I could still praise the demon in front of me.


    "You threw up drunk and soiled your clothes, so I took them off."


    I frowned before remembering what happenedst time.


    "I wasn''t drunk, I passed out because you pressed my neck!" I growled.


    He chuckled again, guiltlessly as he said, "Ah yeah, I lied, then."


    Shielding my naked body, I moved back as he approached the bed, stepping slowly as he took off his shirt.


    Zane Bernardi was a broad-shouldered man and narrowed to his hips. A tattoo of an eagle ran from his left upper arm to his left chest then was adorned with strange lettered tattoos on his chest and both inner elbows. "You look like you''re seeing a ghost."


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    "I see worse, it''s demons." I bit out, stopping moving when I was on the edge of the other bed, about to fall. "I have to go home. Where are my clothes?" I asked again.


    The man was silent, watching me with his eagle eyes that were so intense, and deep.


    My feet had started to get off the bed, but I felt my body float thennd a little hard on the bed that made me bounce. My eyes widened when Zane was on top of me, holding me tightly.


    "Get the hell out of away from me!" I cursed, struggling beneath him.


    "That''s not the right wee after a long absence, Danie." He replies, his face dropping, his dominant eyes that seem to want to devour me making me stiff. "Finally we meet again, Princessa." he whispers, moving further to crush my body under his control.


    His lips instantlynded on mine as his hand moved to the nape of my neck and gripped me. Deepening our kiss. While his lips were already ying with mine, biting me lightly. This kind of hypnosis has blinded me, my body feels hot. Something like urging me toe out, making me unconsciously open my mouth and give Zane''s tongue ess to go deeper.


    He broke our kiss, his face dropping to my neck. His mouth sips, tasting my skin, biting me there making a disgusting moan escape my throat.


    Oh God...


    "Zane..."


    "That''s right... Zane... Not Danzel. Now you can say my real name," he said in a low tone. He chuckled heavily. Sexy. I swallowed bitterly.


    "This is wrong." My voice was hoarse in between his teasing.


    "I like doing wrong things." He paused, biting me on the skin of my neck. "You too."


    I rebel again-and fail. It''s like my strength hasn''t returned after being knocked unconscious by this damn man.


    His face was back on top of mine, pulling my face up from the pillow and kissing my lips lightning fast, sweet and soft. I tried to resist again with what little strength I had left. But I couldn''t. Zane crushed my lips deeper and deeper, further eroding the distance between us, and taking my breath away until the oxygen left my lungs.


    Blood rippled beneath my skin, buzzing with the nerves of ignited passion. I crumble under this man. My enemy.


    He was the man who stole my first kiss. Jason kissed me many times, but only Zane Bernardi managed to leave that euphoria behind. Only he could make me lose my mind the moment our lips came together.


    The sweetness and tenderness turned rough, and filled with possessiveness. He began kissing me hard--scratching my lips roughly, his tongue pressing against mine forcefully. One hand descended from my face, towards my chest that was obscured by the nket. Making the urge of passion overwhelm me. Moans once again escaped.


    My wide-open mouth makes him dominate me even more. He broke our kiss, quickly pulled back the nket covering my body, and then pulled up his own pants. I turned my face away when he removed thest cloth on his body, and then he pulled down my panties quickly, and he was back on top of me.


    The touch of our naked bodies made my body feel like it was being electrocuted.


    He kissed me back. Wild, wet, and iming.


    Surrender. I returned his kiss with the same rhythm. Growling under my breath as he rubbed our touching bodies, something hard and hot touched and pressed against my core.


    Desire overwhelming my chest, I tilted my head, letting him take possession of my lips once more and returned his kiss, both my hands around his neck like I didn''t want this to end. The remnants of consciousness almost disappeared as his firm hands moved wilder and wilder, caressing my chest meaningfully until there was a stinging feeling that made my consciousness instantly swallowed by the strong desire to ept his touch again and again.


    "You want me so much, my enemy." He whispered seductively, his hand moving across my wetness.


    Stroking me delicately while this time his face went down, towards my chest, he suckled my erect nipple that was right in front of his eyes, his other hand squeezing in a seductive motion. Making moans escape from my throat, making the jolt in my chest intensify.


    "I''ll give it to you after torturing you." He continued, and then he really tortured me with passion. His fingers pressed into me but didn''t move.


    "Asshole!" I cursed with a subtle sigh as he didn''t let me achieve release at all.


    That annoying grin came, "Answer my question, have you ever done it with anyone else in these five years?"


    I paused, deciding to reply. "You''re my first but I''m not stupid enough to just leave your trail there." Even though I was stupid for never doing it with another guy.


    I would never give him what he wanted: absolute possession of me. Answering that question with a lie was the right thing to do, I wouldn''t give Zane Bernardi the pride of being the first andst. I wouldn''t give him that. Fuck the orgasms he doesn''t give. I just want to be free of that man''s power. Maybe he''ll let me go.


    "Did you do it with Jason?"


    "Of course. We''re dating." I replied casually.


    I had thought I''d won when I saw his stony expression, but in an instant that face changed with a devilish grin and Zane''s next words made me freeze.


    "You lied, Cara Mia." He whispered low. "No one touches you but me... here," his fingers sink into me, they move slowly and gently, teasingly. I parted my lips, my body arching upwards as he fondled my breasts again. "And here." "You don''t know what''s what..."


    I said between my sighs. Still grabbing thest of my courage to resist. He stopped moving his fingers, even getting out of there. I just swallowed, trying to restrain myself from begging like a bitch. He also moved his face away making his sexy lips leave my chest.


    Now he towered over me in a half-sitting position, his knees bent on the bed supporting his towering body revealing the sexy muscr curves of his upper body. Zane Bernardi truly deserves the nickname ''Prince charming'' with all his perfection. The perfection of wealth, family, power and physique. However, it is even more suitable to be nicknamed ''Charming Devil'' because the man''s vices are truly perfect as well. Resembling or even exceeding the ''Devil''


    My heartbeat pounding, we just stared at each other with me still lying down and him still in his position, looking at me with a deep and intense gaze.


    I thought that he was going to let me go so I was about to move to sit up but he easily pushed my body back down. He grinned with a terrible smile.


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    "So you''ve had sex with Jason?" the question had a calm tone, I chose silence and closed my eyes. Not wanting to make my eyes drop and see something hard looming over me.


    "Is he touching you like this?" he asked, along with a peck on my cleavage. All the nerves in my body tightened, I arched when I felt his gentle pecking and nibbling around my chest which I was sure would leave many marks. "Did he make you like this?" he asked again in a heavy, passionate tone. His tongue fondled my stomach and continued down to my exposed wetness.


    The warmth of his breath immediately invaded me there, I held back my scream as a rubbery objectnded there repeatedly.


    Zane kissed me there before his tongue moved gently, devouring me like he was eating a sandwich. The tickle made me shake my head. My body twitched from the tingling and pleasure I was suffering after five years of never feeling it. Zane tortured me mercilessly in pleasure.


    "Zane~"


    He growled.


    The sound traveled through my body. I gasped as his tongue pushed in slowly and deliciously. It assaulted me with sensual, urgent torment.


    So urgent.


    My headache was so dizzy. My pulse was racing.


    "Zane," I gasped.


    My knees went weak, my legs trembled with tension. His lips continued to tease while his hands held my hips, fondling me with long, long touches.


    He seemed to be satisfying with his full attention-like he was so greedy and urgent that it made me squirm with throbs of pleasure. My wet parts tightened, I was close to climax..


    I scream his name when fire seems to strike my body. I arched my body as the feeling hit me, scattering my consciousness into a million pieces.


    My skin was hot and wet.


    The climax vibrated every nerve in my body, but I knew he wasn''t done yet. His tongue continued to caress me, teasing me with pleasure and torment, attacking me urgently until the climax hit me once again.


    Another orgasm followed.


    I felt the bed buckle as he moved. He released me. Opening my eyes, my gaze collided with his. He smiles a satisfied and dashing smile. My pulse races, my face burning as I feel the jolt of his hardness pressing against my wetness. Oh god... I gasped. My body convulsed. My eyes flew open. I held my breath.


    "Tell me did he make you like this, Cara MIa?" he whispered hoarsely,ing back down on me. Showering every part of my face with kisses from my forehead, both eyelids, the tip of my nose and a long pause on my lips. It ends with our kiss, which is different from the previous one.


    It''s softer, teasing and longing.


    My arms again wrapped tightly around his formidable neck, squeezing the back of his hair lightly.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "You want me too, Princess." he whispered, their foreheadsing together, our breathsing together. "Let me in." Zane growled.


    I swallowed hard. "Slowly," I whispered and he brought our lips back together. His one hand parted my legs, caressing my thigh. I could barely breathe as he pushed into me.


    It hurt.


    The sting of extreme pain overcame me. I closed my eyes, wincing, clutching his back tightly. Trying hard not to cry, he''d been so gentle, but my sensitive skin still stung from his urgency. I''d never had sex again, so of course it hurt. "You lied, Cara Mia." He whispered.


    I opened my eyes with my lips parted.


    Zane kissed my face again, and then kissed my lips softly.


    "This will be temporary. Hold on, Dee," his words were so soft.


    I reached for his back. wing at it as he began to push me expertly. Ignoring my scratches, he pulled back slightly and pushed gently. Really slowly. Then leaned down and kissed my lips again, slow and sweet.


    Slowly but surely and briefly, the pain fades--reced with the pleasure that begins to run through me. A pleasure I''ve never felt again. I can''tpletely deny it anymore. I opened my legs wide and epted him fully.


    His control was so strong-pushing into me. I screamed, gripping his shoulders, tensing up when that huge thrust came again. He pushed me to the top time and time again. My nails dug into his muscles. I gasped, feeling the hot, hard rush inside me. "You''re mine," Zane groaned, gripping my waist, changing the angle. Wanting to go deeper.


    He crushed me tightly, holding me still, urging me hard and fast. I jerked hard, feeling my peak again. This time he overtook me, shaking violently, his grip tightening.


    I couldn''t breathe, helpless.


    I''m falling back into such deep regret tomorrow.

 XIII

    I lost consciousness for a few seconds, and then the broken pieces came back together. I opened my eyes, my chest still rising and falling from the rush of the orgasm he gave me. My eyes blinked wildly, my head moving to and fro. I stared at the man who rolled over to my left side, looking down at me while smiling broadly. His deep dimples were visible. This is wrong.


    Very wrong.


    He is my boyfriend''s brother. He should be off-limits. Even I had never done this with Jason.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    What''s more...


    He is my enemy.


    He was the one who had killed my best friend and had ruined my life.


    Zane Bernardi, who...


    "I should have found you earlier," he whispered, and his embrace on my body made me stiffen.


    I immediately moved to sit up and looked at him, who raised an eyebrow. His features were so rxed, like nothing had happened, like the fact that I was his brother''s girlfriend didn''t bother him. I frowned at Zane Bernardi and tried to figure out what had gone wrong in his head.


    Well, he couldn''t possibly be thinking like that. Because he doesn''t have a brain.


    "It''s a mistake," I immediately moved off the bed, picked up my clothes that were apparently on the floor and looked at the digital clock on the nightstand, which still showed eleven o''clock at night.


    I have to go home now. This is Los Angeles. I''ve got my three overprotective brothers with me and Ariana, Oh God... what about her? Did she return to Abraham''s house and tell my brother''s that I disappeared or slept with a man? Fuckity fuck. Fucking shit.


    I put on my clothes while my mind is so full of chaos and panic. I looked back at Zane Bernardi, who was still lying rxed... and naked. He was lying on his side, resting his head on his fist and watching me with an expression like I was his entertainment.


    His body, which was so athletic and... sexy, bothered me a little, but my wits that had returned pped my other side that was so stupid.


    "You... are such an asshole," I cursed at him. "You let me get drunk, knocked me out and dragged me here? You''re a total asshole." I cursed at him.


    I reached for my phone on the nightstand and found two messages from my cousin. Ariana simply said, ''Have a good night. He''s so handsome!'' along with a blinking eye emoji, and then followed by ''I''ll be here and wait for you two to finish having a great orgasm. I won''t tell your three stupid brothers. Take it easy.'' And then theughing emoji.


    Well, fuck her.


    "What did you tell her?" I asked.


    "Who?" he raised one eyebrow.


    "Ariana. The woman I was with." I said.


    He shrugged. "Something that can''t get in my way." He replied.


    I closed my eyes and felt my head throbbing. I forced my feet towards the door even though my legs were still shaking and my heart was still beating loudly in my chest. "Where are you going?"


    "Leave you. Going home. Go away from you." I replied sharply as I jiggled the doorknob in a chaotic motion because it didn''t open. "Why so soon?" he asked.


    I sighed in annoyance. "Because I don''t want to spend another five seconds with you," I replied.


    I looked at him, and he was still where he was, smiling sweetly. Something that could attract a woman to crawl into his bed. I''m sure he must be pleased to find me to be one of those women. Well, making the woman he once destroyed bend her knees again was an achievement. "Hurry up and open this door. I have to go home."


    "Have you been in San Francisco all this time? Jason told me that." He said, narrowing his eyes at me. "If I had known you were there all along, I probably would have spent my time in San Francisco looking for you. Unfortunately, your family seemed to cover your radar so well." He chuckled. "And you fell into that hole yourself? Dating a Bernardi?" his tone was scornful.


    "If I had known that you were Bernardi.." I paused to let out a rough breath. "...I wouldn''t be dating Jason." I continued. "Unfortunately it''s toote, isn''t it?"


    "Not for me. I''ll-"


    "You can''t run away from me, Danie Rodriguez." He cut me off, his eyes looking at me deep and prating. "You realize that."


    "I don''t know what you want from me." I reply. "You destroyed me, and you killed my best friend. It looks like you''ve gained power in Cosa Nostra now that you''ve managed to take the Mexican cartel with you. What more do you want?" I shot, and then I gasped as I stared at his silence. "Did Carlos Garcia put you up to this? Trap me and take me? Is it going to be me who gets killed this time?" I continued with my heart beating chaotically.


    He said nothing but remained silent and looked at me intensely. Is that right? So he''s going to take me? And kill me?


    "I don''t have sex with people I''m going to kill." He said.


    "Yeah, because you''re not the one who''s going to kill me. Carlos Garcia is going to take the fun out of it."


    Zane Bernardiugh and shook his head, then chuckled like he had just found a good joke. "Your assumptions are so wild. Five years ago you were so quiet and sweet-now you''re like a fierce little cat."


    "You don''t know anything about me, and let me add that it was only one night," I replied, snorting in exasperation. "Get me out of here," I continued.


    He tilted his head, pulling a smile. "You don''t want to let go of homesickness with me?"


    "Ew, no." I replied with disgust.


    Theughter that came out of him was so loud. He got off the bed, put on his boxer briefs and then stepped towards me with an inviting gesture. The problem was that his physique was arguably so tantalizing. I told you he was like a devil with a handsome face to trap many people into sinning. The tattoo adorning his chest made me frown and urged me to ask what it meant.


    But damn it, I restrained myself.


    "From the look of you, it looks like you don''t want to leave this room," he smirked.


    I rolled my eyes.


    "I like how your eyes roll," his seductive voice.


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    Now, I was really annoyed. "Hurry up and open this door, Bernardi. I don''t want to spend the next two seconds with you." I bit down sharply.


    He was in front of me and sighed. "What if I''m not here because of Carlos Garcia?"


    "I don''t care."


    "Look, Senorita, whatever assumptions you made from five years ago are wrong."


    I folded my arms across my chest, "Wrong? It was obviously you who leaked my identity to them. You brought me to Rodriguez''s hotel because you knew that I was Rodriguez. You knew me from the beginning which is why you approached me at the pub."


    No one in the city knew where Rodriguez''s hotel was because it was in another city thirty minutes away. I was the only one who knew, and everyone in my father''s cartel had told me not to take anyone from there. It was the hotel and the ce where my father''s men operated everything. If I took one person there from the small town where Garcia ruled, it couldn''t be an innocent person, maybe that someone is a spy for Garcia or the Mexican government.


    But I foolishly escorted the person who was Garcia''s bridge to find all of us. The man in front of me.


    I shouldn''t have told a man who was working with Garcia where the ce was. I should have, but I was stupid and still innocent, still so naive and too easily influenced by a man''s beauty.


    If I didn''t do that, and became intelligent for just a little while, then Magnan wouldn''t be killed and my identity would remain hidden.


    I was so stupid.


    He said nothing after that but pressed his forefinger on the small box beside the door. The box instantly turned red, and then the door opened.


    A fingerprint.


    And then the clicking sound of the door opening.


    "You should run if you want to get out of my room because I will lock you up when I catch you."


    And I ran.

 XIV

    This is ridiculous.


    Apparently, Zane Bernardi''s room was in this club. I thought he was taking me to one of the hotels. And if he can even close and lock the entire door with his fingerprint, that means he''s part of this club, right?


    I used the elevator and pressed the main floor button, and I was surprised to find that I was on the tenth floor.


    Well, I shouldn''t be surprised anymore. He must always have a room in any club in the world because he can more easily drag any woman to satisfy him in bed.


    I leaned my head against the wall and closed my eyes, cursing myself for the mistake I just made.


    How humans can be so stupid.


    How could I give in so easily? How could I be so easy? Why his influence still have so much power over me? Is it because of the alcohol?


    I don''t know. But I can always defend myself and punch anyone in the face who harasses me. Moreover, I sensed that I wasn''t too drunk. I could have kicked him in the face again, and I was very sober when he touched me and... took me to the edge of the world.


    Why can''t I even resist him?


    Why could I...


    Damn it. He is my boyfriend''s brother, and he is my enemy.... Is this some kind of bad luck or karma for the crimes I''vemitted in previous lives?


    The door opened, and I immediately heard the sound of music that seemed to be getting bigger. It''s already midnight, and indeed, more and more people are crowding around to have a good time. Well, no onees to the club during the day, right?


    I get out of the elevator and look around for Ariana. I return to our spot and surprised to find Ronan, Ariana''s husband, here. He''s sitting, focused on his phone, and sipping from Ariana''s bourbon ss. "Ronan?" I squeal in surprise.


    Bad luck again.


    Ariana''s husband is here, which is not a good thing. He doesn''t like his wife messing around, like going to clubs with her friends without him. He is possessive and always has trouble controlling Ariana, who is so free.


    He looked at me and smiled. "Good to see you, Danie."


    "Since when are you here?"


    "Since Abraham told me that my naughty wife goes to this club." He frowns. "Seems like from thirty minutes ago."


    Ronan Bratsov was a Russian man who had a partnership with Ariana''s father and my father. He is handsome in a rugged way, and his body was athletic. The type that anyone would think he would be better suited as a model than a Bratva leader.


    "Where is she now?"


    "She''s in the toilet." He replied. "And we should leave immediately."C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    "Why?"


    "This club belongs to the Italians," that made me stiffen. "Well, of course you don''t know."


    "What is their name?"


    Ronan gave me a long look. "I''m not sure you''ll be okay with that."


    "Zane Bernardi?"


    "His cousin. Gior Bernardi." Ronan then nced around. "It probably won''t be good for us in the next twenty minutes. Because they need plenty of time to find out about who I really am."


    It looks like what Abraham said about Cosa Nosta not being able to exist in California was just nonsense. The proof is that I''ve seen many Bernardi businesses flourish here.


    What the hell?


    "Then..." I sighed, closing my eyes. Damn, Ariana. "...get your wife. She must be sleeping in there."


    Ronan blinked a few times before swearing and heading towards the toilet.


    Yeah, yeah, that wouldn''t be good. If only the people guarding this club found out about Ronan, we would be in for a mess. Just like us, the Russians and Italians in the mafia world are not doing well. Ronan came out of the bathroom with Ariana in his arms. I grimace when I see Ariana being carried like he''s carrying a sack of cement.


    I grabbed Ariana''s bag and followed Ariana''s husband out of the club.


    We got out safely, and I had to drive Ariana''s car home by myself while Ariana was in Ronan''s car.


    I pause on the beach and stare out at the dark sea lit only by the moonlight. It''s a clear and bright night. The waves are calm, and the calm sea breeze hits my face.


    I leaned against Ariana''s expensive car and stared ahead.


    I start to wonder what I need to do to get away from Zane Bernardi, who seems interested in ying games with me.


    First, I had to break up with Jason.


    Second.. I need to resign from the Royal Ridge project.. because it just so happens that the building we''ll be working in is his...


    Yeah, it looks like my future isn''t going too well.


    >>>


    After a rough sleep, I came out of my room. I had to drink the herbal tea Theo had given me, and I finally slept well and was able to wake up at nine in the morning.


    I find Abraham busy cooking on the kitchen counter, Theo talking to Ronan on a chair on the balcony, and Damien busy pestering Ariana, who is sitting lethargically on a chair at the dining table, eating a mango. Damien pulled a big chunk of mango, and Ariana screamed because of it.


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    "What happened to you?" I ask because she''s usually so cheerful in the morning with her yoga gear.


    Now, she''s just wearing an oversized T-shirt that must be her husband''s, her golden hair hanging in disarray over her shoulders, and Damien is pulling at one strand of it until ites loose, and she screams.


    "It''s nothing serious," she smiles at me after hitting Damien on the head. I frown. "Ronan was so wild for punishing mest night." Her smile showed me that it wasn''t the usual kind of punishment.


    I snorted in disgust and shuddered while sheughed. I sat down next to her and pinched her thighs since she was only wearing a short boxer, and she put one leg on the chair while eating the mango she had neatly cut on a te. "Why did you take me to that clubst night?" I whispered sharply to her, ncing at Damien, who was already busy with his phone.


    Ariana blinked seductively at me. "Why? Do you regret it after spending your wild night with a handsome guy?" her lips puckered. "He''s so handsome, you know!


    "He''s a jerk,"


    "Jerk guys are thrilling,"


    I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath before whispering again, "The owner is Italian, you moron."


    She gaped, dumbfounded at my words, before blinking wildly. "Well, I don''t know about that." Then she whispered, looking at me with concern. "And did you also fuck that Italian guy yesterday?"


    I couldn''t possibly tell her that I had sex with Zane Bernardi.


    "None of your business."


    "You''re angry now? Look, I can tell the three crazy guys here that you had sex with a guyst night. Italian guys."


    "Don''t you dare."


    "Then don''t get pissed at me!" She gave me a sneering look and already opened her mouth. "Attention-"


    I stuffed arge mango seed into her mouth. "You like mangoes, right? This is for you."


    >>>

 XV

    I returned to San Francisco with Theo and Damien while Ariana''s husband carried Ariana back to Sacramento. Theo was staying at Damien''s house near the beach, and I joined them for a quick lunch before heading back to my t. "There''s no Abraham, my chef is on vacation so you do the cooking." Damien points at me quickly.


    I snorted and shook my head, leaning in to rest my head on my second brother''s shoulder, who was focused on the game on his tablet. "You can buy it from the restaurant. I want seafood." "Restaurant food isn''t healthy, you idiot." Damien retorted.


    "You cook, then." I shot back.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Theo chuckled in annoyance. "You''re not that stupid to find an expensive restaurant with healthy food, Dummy." he told Damien. "Tell one of your men to buy it. Don''t inconvenience yourself, and don''t start a fight with Danny." He continued. I pulled a mocking smile at Damien, who gave me a sharp look. If it was in front of our two eldest brothers, he would relent and keep quiet to obey their orders, but since I was the daughter and thest child, he was often arbitrary with me. He used to tease me and make me cry when we were little. But, Abraham and Theo loved me more, so all I needed to do wasin to them and let Abraham and Theo scold him.


    Damien passed us and stepped on my foot on purpose. I yelled, "You asshole. Walk with your eyes!" I cursed.


    While Damienughed and kept walking towards the exit, Theo clucked in a low warning tone. "Damien,"


    I whined and leaned back into Theo''s shoulder. He was still focused on ying the game.


    "Theo... is what Abraham said true? That California is not Cosa Nostra territory?"


    "That''s right, none of them or anyone else will hurt you, Princess." He stopped his game and looked at me with a frown on his face. "Why? Is something wrong?"


    I looked at him and hesitated about whether I should say this or not. "But why did I just find out that one of Bernardi''spanies is here?" I asked.


    Theo nodded in understanding, his expression calming down. He leaned back on the sofa. "It''s legal, Princesa. Papa''s legalpany is also in New York, and it won''t cause any problems at all." He replied. "It would be forbidden if they were doing illegal business here and we were doing it in New York. That''s a serious offense. Including hurting one of the people dealing with this underground business in our territory."


    "I thought the mafia had no rules."


    "There are rules, but the punishments are more dire and provide unstoppable chaos. It would be fatal and rarely negotiable," he replied. "I can assure you, Bernardi or Garcia won''t be able to hurt you or your best friend here." He continued. "What if Joanna or me identally meet one of them? Like what happened at my boyfriend''s party?" I asked. "What if one day Bernardi or Garcia were desperate to kidnap us both here?"


    Theo turned to me and looked at me seriously. "They won''t be able to. There is a tight guard around you and Joanna, and they will react instantly when a threates in your way. You two are untouchable here."


    But I had already been touched by Bernardi, the man who even became a Don of Cosa Nostra. Whatever it was, It seems like Zane Bernardi has something more than we do to the point that he can do as he pleases here.


    I swallowed bitterly and nodded.


    "Are you worried about them, Princesa? Well, how about this, you don''t have to work, and you go back to Madelin with Joanna? That would be better. You won''t have to worry about anything." He suggested.


    I snorted. "I don''t want that."


    He snorted. "Don''t worry about anything, then. Just enjoy your life here. You and Joanna will be fine. No one will harm either of you unless you do it yourself. If youmit an offense, Princess... you know that you will be immediately recalled back to Madelin and live there forever." He said with a mocking smile.


    I snorted.


    If I had returned to Madelin, Joanna and I would have died of boredom in that luxurious cage where I grew up.


    Well, of course, my parents never hurt me. They spoiled me, protected me, and gave me everything I wanted. All my siblings never hurt me either. The point is that I''m full of affection and love in my family. My family broke the stereotype that growing up in a mafia family is a deadly prison with cold-blooded people. That doesn''t exist.


    But the protection around us was tight. My father always put a few people wherever I went, especially my three siblings and me. In my case, it was even stricter. I never had any friends because I never yed around after I got home from school. I once had two friends, Bianca and Elena. They were very lovely initially but drifted away after we reached the end of school. They said that I was a boring person because I never had fun, and they said that I was too innocent to let my parents control me. They persuaded me several times to go to clubs and parties. But I refused them, and I immediately stopped my friendship with them. I chose to continue my schooling without being friends with anyone because I didn''t want to vite anything my family had outlined.


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    They didn''t control me. They protected me. I realized where I was born and that danger was always lurking. I didn''t want to worry everyone about my transgressions, but yeah, it was a boring life.


    It made me never have a boyfriend because my three brothers would scare off any boy who came near me, and then there were some of the creepier ones who would approach any boy who tried to do so. But it was never a problem for me back then because I was never interested in any of the boys in my school, nor did I always focus myself on my studies to get good grades. So I did have no friends, but I wasn''t lonely.


    I always chose my family above anything else.


    I''ve onlymitted one offense in my entire life, which was being in the enemy''s grasp in Mexico and not doing the work my grandfather and father gave me well. And once I made a mistake, it became such a big one that it turned my life upside down.


    I stared at the wooden roof of Damien''s house and wondered about what my life would be like if I made a second mistake by letting Zane Bernardi ruin me again.


    <<<


    "H, babes." I hugged Joanna, who was sitting on the sofa, from behind after I quietly and silently put my suitcase on the floor. She was still wearing headphones and staring at the movie ying on herptop.


    She winced in surprise and swore. "You''re fucking bitch!" she snorted in exasperation. Iughed amusedly as I took the seat next to her. "You didn''t bring me anything?" she asked as he took off her headphones. "What? You didn''t tell me you wanted something." I replied. "I only brought you this." I took the baked brownie I bought in Los Angeles from the goody bag. It was Joanna''s favorite.


    "This is what I meant. But I wanted the exclusive Go bag that just came out." She replied.


    I snorted as I looked at her. "You have a lot of bags."


    "I like collecting bags." She replied without turning her head because she was eager to open the brownie box.


    "You like to spend money." I retorted.


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    "That''s my money. None of your business." She shot back unconcernedly. She got up to get a knife from our kitchen while I crossed my legs.


    I bit my lip and felt hesitant about whether to say anything about the incident in Los Angeles or not.


    "Oh yeah, why did you call me back then?" she asked when she was back and sitting next to me. She started cutting the brownies. "You say like it''s a wrong number, but I know you''re not. You were probably trying to fool Jason there." "Yeah, I did," I replied, swallowing. "I wanted to tell you everything that happened there because I couldn''t possibly confide in my three annoying brothers."


    "You know that I always listen to everything."


    "I met Zane Bernardi."


    Her mouth formed an O. "That''s good. You''ve wanted to meet him for a long time, right? Is he handsome? Do you like him now? You want to betray Jason, huh?"


    I swallowed, "No." I sighed softly. "Zane Bernardi is Danzel. He was Jason''s brother." I paused, her eyes wide and shocked. "The man who led us to death. The man who indirectly killed Magnan."


    Joanna gave me a puzzled look.


    "That''s why I called you. I made up an excuse for Jason that you were in an ident so I could go with Abraham and Theo. And then, I met him again after I did a seminar at a miningpany. And it turns out that thepany belongs to Zane Bernardi." I continued. "Then I came to the club with Ariana and I met him again."


    "What?"


    I nodded and got ready to say the next thing. "And then we..." I sighed. "He trapped me in his room, and we.. we.." I stammered. "We had sex." "WHAT?!!!"

 XVI

    Joanna paused, looking at me with a mixed expression of surprise and confusion. The brownie in her hand almost fell, but she quickly realized and put it back on the te. She took a deep breath, as if trying to calm herself before speaking again.


    "Are you serious? You slept with Zane? The guy who posed as Danzel five years ago? With Jason''s brother?" her voice sounded quieter but clearer, full of disbelief. "Zane Bernardi. The man responsible for Magnan''s death." "Yes," I replied softly, bowing my head. "I know, this is wrong. I know I''ve made a terrible mistake." I bit my lip.


    "How did you get stuck with that jerk, perra?"


    I moved ufortably in my seat. "Ariana took me to the club to have fun. Zane Bernardi was there, and he found me. We had a few arguments when he cornered me in the bathroom. I kicked him in the bird! I''m sure it was very hard, because you know that I have experience learning material art with Damien, right?"


    "Stay on track," Joanna growled irritably.


    I drew a noisy breath from my nose. "I.... then I looked for Ariana, to take her back to Abraham''s house, but she was still energetically dancing on the dance floor. That fucking Bernardi could still stand up and bother me. I... I drank alcohol too much and I wasn''t focused to him. He kissed me and then he knocked me out by pressing a spot on my neck." Joanna widened her eyes. "And then I woke up in one of the rooms he had in the club, and..." I swallowed. "I just gave up because it seemed like he wouldn''t let me go or let me out. Even to open the door I had to use his fingerprints!"


    "What a crazy bitch," Joanna shook her head, still trying to digest everything I had just said. "So, what are you going to do now? What if Jason finds out?"


    I closed my eyes for a moment, trying topose myself. "I don''t know. I really don''t know. I... I had intended to break off our rtionship after I met his brother at the party. I also didn''t want to hurt Jason when he found out that I had slept with his brother.. twice."


    "I''m amazed that you can still think on your feet," Joanna said with a hint of scorn, and then growled at me. "You really need to break up with Jason. This isn''t just about infidelity. It''s about the man responsible for Magnan''s death. This is bigger than both of us."


    I nodded slowly, though my heart was beating fast. "I know, Joanna. But I''m scared. I''m afraid... I''m afraid that it won''t be easy because... because Zane Bernardi already knows where I am." I stammered. A tightness took over my chest. "Jason apparently told him that I live in San Francisco, and he knows..."


    "You have to tell your brothers, Danny." Joanna grabbed my hand, holding it tightly. "They''re going to do their best to solve this problem, and you need to give up your new job. We need to get out of here."


    My face paled. "Theo and Abraham told me that everything would be fine. That Cosa Nostra won''t hurt us while we''re here." I retorted.


    "Well, do you think Zane Bernardi is that stupid? To hurt us here? Do you think he''s using barbaric means to make your life miserable again?"


    I blinked.


    "He can do many things."


    "I..." I sighed heavily. I knew that Joanna''s opinion made sense. That my leaving would make it impossible for Zane Bernardi to find me again. But... but my life was already neatly organized in San Francisco. I can''t... "I''ll think about it."


    "Think wisely." Joanna replied, hissing warningly but her face looked at me with thick concern. "You are everything to me now. You''re my best friend. You''re all I have. I don''t want to lose you this time after Magnan."


    ¦¡¦«¦«


    I wore casual office clothes, a white shirt and white trousers. I tied my hair up casually and put on a little makeup because, damn it! I was alreadyte. I spent the night staying upte with Joanna, eating ice cream while crying after watching a sad romantic movie.


    And Joanna forgot to wake me up!


    Now, there''s only ten minutes to get to the office where I''ll start my work. It''ll be bad luck if our team leader finds mete on the first day.


    I pressed the gas of my car hard and luckily this morning the streets were not so crowded, I didn''t face any traffic at all.


    I got out after parking my car in front of the big building where our office is located. The rental office. Scavi Titanio''spany, whose owner Zane Bernardi, unfortunately.


    I walked toward the entrance while silently chanting a prayer about him not being here or finding me. Yeah, I probably won''t meet him because he doesn''t know that I''m a member of the Royal Ridge construction project, apany that belongs to his friend. But I''ll keep praying because sometimes my misfortune has more luck than my prosperity.


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    I looked at Elsa who was sitting in the lobby with a few other people, I walked slightly bent over so as not to attract the attention of my other team members. Elsa smiled as she looked at me. "Hey."


    "Am Ite?" I grimaced.


    Elsa shook her head. "No, you''re not. You''re notte. Even the team leader isn''t here yet."


    I sighed with relief, "Oh thank God. I couldn''t sleepst night, and my housemate didn''t wake me up this morning. So I was in a hurry."


    "You took a shower, right?" she asked in a joking tone.


    "Of course I showered." I chuckled softly. "How are you?"This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "I''m good, very good. But right now I''m nervous. It''s my first time holding a project with a bigpany. I''m afraid of making a mistake. How about you?"


    "I''m nervous too, but I''m sure everything will go smoothly."


    "Amen."


    Then our conversation had to stop because our team leader, Sir Kennan Jonas, came and approached us. "Good morning. Nice to see you again. No need for long pleasantries. Now, I''d like to take you straight to the office where you''ll be working."


    He took us to the top floor, which managed to get my heart racing. I anticipated something, and tried to shrink my presence in case Zane Bernardi was here.


    The elevator took us to the top floor, which was where the executive staff worked. This was a very exclusive area, and I felt a little ufortable being here. Kennan pressed the button and the elevator doors opened to a spacious corridor with modern and elegant decor.


    "This room is where you will work," Kennan said as he walked ahead of us. "I want you to be close to the executives so thatmunication can be smoother and more efficient. You will have ess to all the resources needed for this project." We arrived at arge room filled with modern cubicles. Each cubicle was equipped with thetest technological equipment, which impressed me. Kennan stopped in the center of the room and turned to face us.


    "Well, team," he said, "you are part of the IT team that will be developing the information system for the Royal Ridge project, and I''ve given you the design ording to the division we didst time. So," he smiled at me. "Let''s get to work. You are free to choose which cubicle you feelfortable working in."


    Seriously, that''s it?


    Elsa and I looked at Sir Kennan as he walked out of the room, but instead of thinking about him, I chose a desk to work at. I chose the one at the far end of the room. It''s thest one and it''s close to the ss window. It would make me invisible.


    Our cubicles faced each other, and Elsa took the spot in front of me.


    I put my bag on the table and looked around the room which was so luxurious and elegant. Well, this was the taste of an old tycoon whose money was deeply rooted in building his country... so, he must have expensive tastes as well.


    I read the newly received message on my phone when the door to the room opened again, and this message was from Theo. He just told me to take care of myself, to call him when there was a problem, and he informed me that he had a flight scheduled to Bogot right now, and he would be stopping by Madellin to visit our parents.


    "Attention," Sir Kennan''s voice made me look up. My eyes widened when I saw the two men in front of me. I''m sure the employees were as surprised as I was.


    But it wasn''t because of Nicholo Torvar, the owner of Royal Ridge.


    But it''s because of Zane Bernardi beside him, searching around and then his gaze stops on me.


    And his smirk reminded me again, that I really had to take action.

 XVII

    I swear I could hear the choked breaths of the women in my team, and their murmuredpliments to the man with thest name Bernardi.


    He didn''t do anything, just talked about how happy he was that we were working at his ce, or what I could only assume was that he was happy to be hosting us.


    Nicholo Torvar spoke next. He weed us with kind words.


    I tried not to look at the owner of the Royal Ridge, if do I would be face to face with that fucking Bernardi.


    Fuck.


    Damn it.


    This was one more reminder that I shouldn''t underestimate my keen instincts. That I should have trusted those who gave me signs of mise, a sign that something bad was going to happen to me. Now I realized that I was indeed that stupid.


    A rather loud apuse made me look up, and the two men who held the highest power left the room. A sigh of relief ovees me even though I realize that it won''tst long.


    Zane Bernardi will continue to ruin my peace if I stay here.


    Should I call one of my brothers? Or should I just get out of Royal Ridge?


    Well, it seems like the second option would be better because if I tell the truth, then Abraham will make a mess by sending me back to Colombia.


    But really... do the guards who follow me everywhere not know about thispany? About our enemies roaming around here?


    I don''t think they know yet.


    Sitting in my chair, I stared nkly at the table. Just when I wanted to live a normal life, my dark past came along, taking away all that normality. This is really a chaos.


    <<<


    My work today went smoothly without a hitch. I''m relieved that Zane Bernardi didn''t bother me. That''s why I''m now sitting in one of the beachside restaurants with Damien. Enjoying a nice seafood dinner while listening to him talk about his annoying golf buddies and his ns to go to ska because he wants a vacation. While I responded to his ramblings with small reactions, and disinterest because my head was spinning. It was filled with a lot of things about whether I should talk to him about Zane Bernardi''spany housing Royal Ridge workers or about me having to quit my job.


    I don''t know.


    I was really excited about this job, but there was a dark past getting in the way. Clearly, the big smile Zane Bernardi gave me wasn''t just a greeting. It could be a warning that I''ll never be at peace and that he''ll always be bothering me. If I said Zane Bernardi was here... would my brothers throw me into Madelin?


    "Why are you so quiet?"


    "I was thinking about work."


    His mocking snicker came out. "Stressed, right? It''s why you don''t listen to what we say. You''d be happier in your room, shopping without thinking how much of Papa''s money you''re spending, taking vacations, and having fun. But instead you took a path that stressed you out. Don''t me me for your life choices."


    "Not about that!" my teeth chattering, I snorted. "My job is fine. I really enjoy it there and my colleagues are nice."


    "So?"


    I shook my head, not ready to answer him but I asked him something else. "Why isn''t Royal Ridge staying in your building?" I asked, curious about that.


    Damien shrugged, as if he didn''t care. "I don''t know. One of them said that there was another building that housed them for free." he replied.


    Wow. I didn''t expect that Zane Bernardi could be that kind to his own friend.


    I nodded and bit my lip in agitation. Damn. Do I have to tell him now?


    *Yes.


    No, I don''t.*


    "What''s wrong with you?" he asked with a furrowed brow and refocused on cutting the lobster leg which was a bit hard.


    "Royal Ridge.. I mean, we.. work at Scavi Titanio."


    His hands that were cutting the lobster legs stopped, he looked at me with a deepening frown on his forehead. "Scavi Titanio?"


    "You know about thatpany, right?"


    "Who doesn''t know thatpany? And in fact I''ve been keeping an eye on it for a long time."


    I froze. "You did?"


    "Hm," he mumbled, agreeing. "And you work there? Where our enemy is?"


    "I didn''t know that the owner of Royal Ridge was close friends with... *him*. I really didn''t know. And.." I sighed in defeat. "Do you think I should back off?" Damien looked at me, from his features I guessed that he was thinking hard. "Did you meet with Zane Bernardi?" he asked.


    I blinked for a few times before giving him the lie. "No, I didn''t meet him." I replied.


    "So he wasn''t there?"


    I shook my head.


    "You don''t need to resign."


    I red, disbelief creeping over me. "Are you serious?"


    "Yes, I''m serious." He replied in a casual voice, which wasn''t serious enough.


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    I kept staring at him who was back to cutting lobster legs.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He sighed heavily. "You didn''t meet Bernardi... so what? Anyway like we said, he wouldn''t dare do anything to you. He wouldn''t hurt you on our own turf."


    Yeah, he didn''t hurt me, but he touched me... and fucked me.


    "And what if hees up to me and tries to hurt me or do something to me?"


    "Never." Damien''s answer was confident.


    "You don''t know that yet," I said, my memory going back to the night I was at the club in Los Angeles... Zane Bernardi made it clear that he didn''t care about my families power, and he basically told me not to underestimate him... I was sure that my brothers were still so confident in the power they had here that they''d forgotten the worst that could happen. They underestimated Zane Bernardi too much.


    "If hees in his office, or does anything.." Damien said while chopping up another lobster. "...be sure to keep an eye on him and tell me what he''s doing, who he''s meeting with."


    "You''re trying to make me a spy again?" I red, with a sudden rage welling up in my chest. "I already did that five years ago, I don''t want to anymore. I''d better back out of that job."


    "You can resign. No one is forcing you." Damien replied. "But I know it''s better if you don''t want to do it. You like working, you don''t want to be alone at home doing nothing, and you also know that this job is a good opportunity for you. We know the situation now. You have to be careful, Danie. That''s the most important thing."


    I let out a long breath, feeling frustrated. "So you''d rather I stay there and be a spy?"


    "It''s not like that," Damien replied. "I just think that with the information you have, we can be better prepared. But if you really feel ufortable, you can quit the job. We won''t force you, Danny."


    My mind was spinning, considering all the options. I liked this job, but the presence of Zane Bernardi made things moreplicated. I needed to be careful, more vignt. Maybe Damien was right, as long as I could avoid Zane and focus on my work, everything would be fine.


    But Zane Bernardi seems to already be intent on targeting me, wreaking havoc in my life not in the way my parents and my three brothers thought. He was going to do it through his charm... ensnare me with it.


    My heart beats with uncertainty.


    Like there was something that bound me to Royal Ridge, that made me unwilling to leave, while there was something else at risk.. that made me indecisive.


    I ate the lobster meat that Damien had arranged uneasily.


    <<<

 XVIII

    Nervousness gripped me as I walked into the office lobby. I entered at seven in the morning, and only a few people had just arrived. The security guard at the front of the building smiled politely at me, looking at me like he was proud that there was a new employee with youthful vigor who came not too early in the workday.


    I did this because I didn''t want to run into Zane Bernardi suddenly in the lobby or get stuck in the elevator with him. It seems like it''s just a fear of mine, but well... I don''t want to take things for granted. I need to be careful with my steps now. Damien said that if I saw Zane Bernardi, I should report what he did and who he met, but I didn''t even want to see him, so I wasn''t going to report anything to Damien even though he said it was just in case an enemy was working with Zane Bernardi to take over California.


    The executive floor was still empty. There was only an office boy mopping the floor and smiling at me. I smiled back kindly and went into my room. I sat down in my cubicle and pulled out the breakfast I had made at five in the morning. It even made Joanna frown in surprise and tease me about how eager I was to work at my enemy''s ce. She even thought that the reason I hadn''t resigned from this job was that I was still giving Zane Bernardi a taste.


    Damn it, I really don''t. I''ve never had any feelings for my enemy. What happened five years ago was purely the virginal passion I had for him... well, his looks were different from the men I was around. In one nce, he could already fool me with all his charms.


    I guess the saying about ''demons having good looks so that they can more easily ensnare humans'' is true. Zane has ensnared me before, and now it won''t happen again. I guarantee it.


    My ident when I was in Los Angeles a few days ago was because I was drunk, and he knocked me out. I technically couldn''t fight him, and he locked me in his exclusive hotel room, so..,well, the weak me couldn''t fight him that time. But now... I''m sure I can. I won''t leave myself vulnerable, and I''ll prepare my stance for when he does something suspicious to me, like wanting to ensnare me like that time. I had learned muay thai with Damien so well. Plus, I had already mastered it since I entered junior high school because the four men in my family wanted to give me the tools to defend myself in their absence. Abraham had also taught me how to use a gun. All sorts of weapons, even though they were illegal for us to own.


    But, well, everything about our family business is against thew.


    Is it luck or misfortune?


    I ate my breakfast solemnly while checking social media on my phone. I almost choked when I saw Joanna''s picture on Instagram. She was wearing a sexy bikini and posing sexily with a beach view behind her. To my surprise, Damien liked her post.


    I frowned because Damien never opened his Instagram. I was the one who always uploaded pictures on his ount, it was just five pictures about the beach and a picture of the two of us with Abraham and Theo on a beautiful beach in San Andreas, Colombia. There were only a few followers because it was a private ount, which was mostly our extended family, Damien''s friends, and Joanna.


    Now, this really intrigues me because Damien is very anti-social media. He only checks it for a few seconds before going back to checking his stocks continuously.


    Does he like Joanna?


    Well, the two of them rarely interact. They wouldn''t if Damien didn''te to our t to mess with my life, and that''s totally normal. Now... seeing him liking Joanna''s sexy pictures and never liking my posts makes me wonder. Or am I the one who''s always overreacting?


    Maybe I was overreacting. I decided to ignore that and liked my best friend''s post, thenmented: *why isn''t there a picture of me? :''(*


    Then I put my phone back on the table, focusing on finishing my breakfast menu that I had made earlier before one of my team members came and asked me a lot of questions that I was toozy to answer.


    I finished the rest in five minutes because I was always quick to finish my food. I finished my drink, and then I put my lunch box back in my bag and went to themunal kitchen to make coffee with the sachet coffee I had brought from home. My mind can''t run without coffee in the morning. With coffee, my head would be a good ce.


    The kitchen in this room was nice and rtively modern, with some sophisticated appliances that made me dizzy. I pressed the live screen that showed the icon to turn on the fire because I wanted to boil water, and then I poured coffee into a ss. I leaned against the kitchen counter and gazed around. This office was very cozy and had all the amenities. The concept was really elegant, typical of old money''s rich taste.


    "Coffee for a pleasant first day of work?"


    That voice made me freeze.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    My heart beat chaotically inside my chest, but I still chose to stare ahead at the ss wall. The wall revealed the ocean in the distance and the city of San Francisco, which I thought would be so safe for me.


    All my nerves froze, and the flow of my blood under my skin stopped.


    I could feel his presence closing in on my space, cornering me with all its deadly and dangerous dark enchantment.


    *Well, fuck him.*


    I had thought that I could avoid him, but this...


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    "Cat got your tongue, mouse?" And now he was right next to me, whispering something mocking in my ear.


    I swallowed hard. "Yes, sir."


    *"Yes, sir?"* his incredulous chuckle mixed with mocking came out.


    I bit my lip and struggled to breathe. "Please," I hissed. "I don''t want a mess at my job. I want to work professionally, sir."


    "I''m not your boss, Cara Mia." He replied lowly.


    He was still leaning on the counter right next to me, our thighs and arms rubbing together, causing something to spark inside my core. "In that case, I''ll leave this job if you can''t restrain your animal lust," I muttered vengefully, but I still wouldn''t look at him.


    Zane Bernardi let out that deep, heavy chuckle again. "Try me." His voice was full of challenge. "Unfortunately... your boyfriend will know what you did in Los Angeles a few days ago." I felt his lips close around my ear, his warm breath making me shudder. "More like ... your lies."


    He threatened me.


    "Oh, look at this. I''ve never seen another woman look attractive in work clothes. But now... I''m speechless. This outfit makes you even hotter."


    "All you''ve been doing since now is throwing around useless words," I folded my lips, growling as I finally turned to him, and I managed to look into his dark green eyes. That was my weakness, the point at which I gave up five years ago. "But I can''t find the words to praise you right now."


    The master seducer, the annoying and disgusting lousy boy. But.. he always had his charm. A charm that exceeded any man, even his own brother. His hair is currently untidy and ungelled, a little messy but sexy. His ck shirt that fits his body allows me to see his sexy muscles. Moreover, he rolled up his sleeves to his elbows.. it makes him.. ugh.


    I swallowed.


    "You canpliment me on anything, and I won''t appreciate it." I stepped away from the counter and moved slightly away, afraid that someone else might walk into the kitchen and misunderstand our closeness. "You''re quite rude for a woman." He retorted.


    I bit my lip, focusing on pouring hot water into my coffee and not turning to him. "If that''s you, then yes... I am rude."


    "I like rude women."


    Damn it. "Fuck off, Bernardi. If you''re ying me to mess with my family, you won''t be able to get that from me." I said lowly. " Especially since I''m your brother''s girl."


    "I don''t care about your family or Jason, darling." I could feel him approaching again. He stood at my side, facing me. I looked up at him, and he looked down at me with his eager eyes. "What I want to do is you." "You crazy psycho," I hissed. "I won''t repeat that night. You locked me up and forced me. I won''t let you again."


    "Really?" he smirked.


    I shut up.


    And he came forward, using both hands to cup my face and shorten our distance.


    And before he could take my lips with his again...


    My legs moved hard against the = objects between his thighs.


    "FUCK!" he looked down with a moan of pain that was so loud.


    I pulled away from him."Really."

 XIX

    The rest of the day went well.


    I worked pleasant and quietly and had lunch with Elsa and my other coworkers. No one interrupted me, and I think the guy named Zane Bernardi was having an emergency in his office because of the kick in the balls that I gave him. I don''t feel guilty about what I did.


    I was even proud of it and wished I could have done more if he hade back to bother me another day.


    But the truth was that I had another n to consider properly. Karem Masoon said that I could work at home, virtually, or in other words: remotely, but I had to tell Sir Kennan Jonas to do so, and I intended to talk about that now, in my off hours.


    My cell phone rang, revealing a call notification from Jason. I picked it up without much thought.


    "H, baby." He said.


    I grimaced and let out a forced grunt. Damn. I should have called him first talked about our rtionship... aka asked for a breakup. "H, babe," I said. "Whatsup?"


    "I''m fine, but I have an emergency meeting at my office, so I can''t be there this week."


    That''s a relief... damn, I''m really being a bad girlfriend now. "Yeah... that''s fine." I took a breath. "Did something happen at the office?"


    He sighed tiredly. "Yeah, there are some projects that are on hold because one of my team heads embezzled funds."


    "Oh my god... Jason..."


    "It''s okay. I''m fine. You don''t have to worry. I''ve finished everything. The project will resume after the meeting."


    "Hopefully, it will still be okay," I said, concerned. "What about that team leader? You fired him, right?"


    "Of course I did, I won''t let a traitor in mypany."


    "Good." I sighed. "I wish I could be there to calm you down but I''ve only been working one day..."


    "Oh right, that''s okay, Sweetheart. And I heard that you guys work at Scavi Titanio, my brother''spany?"


    "Yeah," I swallowed. "It turns out that your brother was so generous to rent out his office to the Royal Ridge project employees."


    "He''s very close with Nicholo Torvar. They''ve been best friends since college until now." He said.


    "Yeah, didn''t expect such a strong friendship." I pondered because when I saw Zane Bernardi and his three friends surfing on the beach, I didn''t see Nicholo Torvar with them.


    "Like you and Joanna."


    I chuckled.


    "By the way, Zane told me that he talked to you and said that you were nice."


    My heart did a small jump, annoyance rising inside me. "Yeah, him too." "What did you guys talk about?"


    I bit my lip. Oh, your brother is a real piece of shit, Jason. "About you. He talked about how he''s proud of you for being able to start your ownpany, and he said that you and I are a perfect match." "Oh, thank goodness."


    "Why?"


    "He''s not trying to tell you shit or seduce you into cheating with him. He''s a yboy, he''s a bad boy, he''s trouble. I don''t want you anywhere near him."


    Sharpness split my heart. I felt.. sad. Irony.. I''ve even slept with him, Jason. I betrayed you and lied to you. I was a bad girlfriend and a bad woman. Very bad. But I''m trying to get over it now. "Well, maybe he wouldn''t do that to his own brother''s girl."


    "Well, maybe."


    I sighed. "I''ll send you my homemade cookies and snacks via Uber Foods on the weekends. What do you think?"


    "That''s great. I''m looking forward to it!" his enthusiastic voice came out.


    "Okay, then," I said. "I have to talk to our team leader about working at home. I''ll call you backter and give you the details. Okay?"


    "Okay, fine. I''ll see youter."


    "See youter."


    He switched off our call, and I organized my gear into my bag. Elsa had excused herself to go home at the end of the day while I waited for Kennan Jonas toe out of his room. But it seemed like it would take forever, so I knocked on his door. The sound of e in'' from inside made me push open the frosted ss door and find the team leader sitting behind the desk and looking at me with a friendly smile.


    "Ms. Gomez?"


    "Just call me Danie," I said. "I wanted to talk to you about working at home. There''s something I need to do."


    Then she nodded and asked me to sit down. Next, I gave her the reason for it.


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    <<<


    "Working from home?" Joanna frowned. "Why don''t you just resign?"


    "I can''t," I sighed softly. "Zane Bernardi threatened me. He''s going to tell Jason what I did in Los Angeles. Including him and me ... that night." "Oh, he really is an asshole, isn''t he?"


    I muttered, eating my pizza with some annoyance. "And you know what he did to me this morning? He teased me. He''s a real jerk!" "And you gave in to that?"


    "Fuck, no." I looked at her sharply. "I kicked him in the balls, and he didn''te out of the room all day. I think that really hurt."


    Joannaughed loudly. "I didn''t expect this."


    "Why not?"


    "When we were in that small town in Mexico. You were the most calm and patient woman even though you were always spouting cynical words. You never let out your rude behavior to the men who teased you." "Because it''s Zane Bernardi..." I trailed off. "He''s more of an asshole than any of them."


    Joanna gave a small nod. "Good. Good. I''m so proud of you." She moved closer, trying to pinch both my cheeks, but I pushed her face until she fell off the couch.


    <<<<


    *It was dark.


    Very dark.


    There was the sound of crying.


    A soft cry that sounded painful.


    I walked slowly down the small pub where I worked.


    I looked around and searched for where the voice wasing from.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Danie..." the called out to me.


    It''s Magnan.


    "Danie, I''m here. Help me." She said softly.


    I ran through room after room of Perez''s pub. Looking for Magnan.


    I can save her.


    I can.


    I stopped in one of the rooms without a door. The darkness was there.


    Magnan''s cries sounded again.


    She was there.


    I entered, stepping quietly into the darkness.


    My heart sank when I saw Magnan sitting on the floor.


    Her face was covered in blood.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    There was a man behind her, his face consumed by darkness.


    "Who are you?" I snapped.


    And then his face appeared.


    My heart leaped out of my chest when I saw who it was.


    Zane...


    He''s Zane Bernardi.


    *

 XX

    The silly nightmares had ruined my mood so badly.


    Sometimes, the bad memories that disturb my sleep are just mixed with other unnecessary silliness. I still wonder why my brain could be so creative in creating those nightmares. It seems like... well, it''s not creative but silly. My brain is so goofy. I''ll just wait for it to dpose so that it doesn''t go back to producing pointless nightmares.


    But still, I should be the one controlling it. Trying to get out by calling a psychiatrist or psychologist like Abraham suggested... but that... that was a bad idea for me.


    Just imagining it makes me shudder.


    "Hey, are you okay?" Elsa''s soft voice came into my hearing.


    As I turned to her, her sweet smile appeared. If I were a man, I would make her my girlfriend. "I''m fine," I chuckled. I''m just daydreaming." I shook my head. I had a nightmarest night, and yeah... it made my mood worse." "It was just a dream. You don''t need to dwell on it."


    Yeah, he''s never had the experience of seeing his best friend killed in front of his own eyes. I just chuckled at her reply and pulled out my breakfast. It was my second day of work, and of course, I was still in my routine. But I had brewed my own coffee at home and put it in a hot water bottle so I could take it with me everywhere. I avoided the kitchen as much as possible and left the room alone.


    Zane Bernardi might show up and try to get back at me about what I had done to him yesterday.


    "Why are you making lunch, Danny? You don''t eat breakfast at home?"


    "I''m a bit un... punctual, and I really enjoy my meals. I can''t rush, so this is effective."


    "But office hours start at half past nine. You came at seven..."


    I grinned. "Yeah, better to wait than bete."


    "You''re very time-disciplined. I like that."


    "But you''re more time-disciplined. You can have breakfast at home ande to the office at an early hour."


    She chuckled softly. "Not really." She said. "You cook your own breakfast while my mom has everything ready."


    I gave a small nod. I snorted lethargically. "I miss my mom."


    "You don''t live with your parents, Danny?"


    I shook my head. "I''m a little far from my family. My parents are in Madelin, Colombia. I have three brothers, the first is in Los Angeles, the second is a pilot but he always goes home to Madelin, the third is here but he lives apart from me. I live with my best friend in a t not far from here."


    "Wow, what a big family" sheughed. "It''s very exciting."


    "What about you?"


    "I''m an only child. I only live with my parents."


    I nodded at that. "That''s cool tho."


    "Why don''t you just live in Madelin with your parents?"


    "I just wanted to..." I shrugged. "I want to experience living on my own and finding my own job. My three older siblings have already done it, and I envy them the freedom to buy anything with their money. It''s a feeling of pride to spend everything with your own money."


    Elsa chuckled at that. "You''re right." She said. "Finish your breakfast, then. I''m going to the kitchen to make some tea, would you like some?"


    I shook my head. "No but thanks."


    She just nodded and I watched her leave the room. I refocused on my food but my gaze identally caught a man...


    Well, Zane Bernardi who strode through the room followed by a few people behind him: probably thepany secretaries or directors.


    I gulped.


    His aura was so dominant and like a good leader yet ruthless and strict. I could see the worried eyes of the people behind him. It seemed like he had always been a ruthless boss.


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    He turned his head to the side and right to me.


    Our gazes held for a few seconds before he turned his face forward with a horrible, thin smile.


    I bit my lip, staring at my food miserably.


    Damn.


    There must be something else he''s going to do to me.


    <<<<


    "So when can I start working at home?" I asked Kennan Jonas.


    He stood at the front of the room with his hands in his pockets looking at me with a bit of uncertainty. "I''m sure working at home is one of the things you''re interested in." "That''s right." I nodded. "Because I''ve always been a frencer."


    "That''s possible, but can you do it on a Monday next week? There will be some meetings and the initial work is still hetic, I want to control it directly first. After that anyone is free to do the work wherever they like."


    It was a little... disappointing but I nodded at him. There was no other choice.


    "Alright, then. Thank you for the information."


    "I''m sorry, Danie." She said.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "It''s okay. It''s only one week, it won''t weigh me down at all." I grimaced.


    "Okay."


    I zipped up my jacket and then excused myself to go home since it was already dismissal time. Sighing, I walked towards the elevator. I didn''t bring my car today because I had a t tire, so I had to take the public bus home, it would be cheaper than a taxi. My money is too much to spend on a taxi.


    I got in when the empty elevator opened. I got in there and leaned my back against the wall.


    There''s still nothing strange going on in my office. Zane Bernardi doesn''t bother me anymore, and that''s something to be thankful for because my work is going smoothly. I''d like it if thatsted until the end of my contract. Let''s hope he stays like this. And let''s hope hees back to New York soon. I''m getting sick of seeing him.. even though I didn''t see him today.


    I walked out of the elevator. Through the main lobby, the beautiful sunset on the horizon makes me tempted to stop at the beach and enjoy it until evening and have a nice seafood dinner!


    That would be nice.


    I walked towards the bus stop while typing a message to Joanna to get ready and prepare the car. We were going to go there.


    The sound of the horn beside me made me wince.


    I almost dropped my phone, growling in annoyance as I stared at the luxury car beside me. The driver''s head popped up in the window and he grinned at me.


    Oh, fucking Bernardi.


    "Get in," he said.


    I winced. "No." I snorted, and gave him the middle finger before walking back to the bus stop.


    No more calls from him, I thought I was safe but an arm wrapped around my waist, hugging me and then lifting me off the ground.


    "Damn it! What do you think you''re doing?"


    "Carrying you." Zane Bernardi replied casually. "Why are you so light? Where did that mountain of food go?" he asked.


    I struggled, but he had already put me in the passenger seat.


    I opened my mouth, about to scream but he silenced my mouth with his lips.

 XXI

    That kiss was madness. I didn''t have time to close my mouth because he had attacked me so suddenly.


    Zane kept urging me to lie on the passenger seat, automatically moving the seat backward. He further urged me to lie down on the seat that was already moving low. He was on top of me, and he closed the door with his other hand while still pressing my lips with his. He swooped down and imed my mouth passionately. He didn''t just kiss me. He imed me roughly. I rebel, but my body beneath him is confined by his body so tightly. His tongue circles my tongue, sweeping, tasting, and biting.


    Something inside me trembled, tempting me to ept his crazy, voluptuous kisses.


    Jason had never been this good.


    My eyes closed in reflex, a moan rising from my throat as he imed my lips more and more with those sexy lips of his. His hands hugged my body tightly, traveling everywhere, teasing me everywhere, touching my sensitive spots beforending on my breast and squeezing me gently but hard.


    A bulge was felt in my chest as he lowered her body further to cling to mine. His bulge rubbing against my stomach made me moan.


    There''s a sound.


    My cell phone rings loudly.


    I froze, and Zane Bernardi stopped.


    My eyes snapped open to stare at his face above me, messy, fucked up, and... sexy.


    I opened my mouth.


    My phone was still ringing.


    And shit.


    ... TEK.


    Like a switch being turned back on, my shattered mind came back together as a whole, though it was impossible. My breath caught when his grin appeared.


    Reflexes mixed with shock made me attack him.


    I smashed my head against his a little forcefully.


    "Fuck," He groaned again in pain.


    I raised my forehead and elbowed his hard cock. It was so strong it made him roll over onto the driver''s seat and look at me with anger mixed with pain.


    I didn''t care. I quickly opened his door and got out.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I ran strongly at the bus that stopped at the bus stop.


    I got in and sighed with relief, like I had just won a runningpetition. I stared at Zane Bernardi''s car, which was still sitting there.


    And then closed my eyes while stroking my forehead that hurt because I bumped our heads a bit.. hard.


    Damn it.


    What the fuck was that?


    <<>>


    "Why do you look like shit?" Joanna asked. "Is there something else? The troublemaker is at it again?"


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    If I told her about what happened earlier, she would mock me and give me another lecture. At worst, she would scold me. My head was already noisy with the curses I had made to myself for enjoying the man''s sexy kiss. I didn''t need Joanna''s brutal spiritual shower yet.


    "No," I replied. "Jasong won''t being here.."


    Joanna raised an eyebrow. "Did you think of that?"


    I nodded. "There''s a problem in his office. He''s swamped right now."


    Joanna frowned, picking up the piece of grilled squid on my menu. But I didn''t care about it. I stared at the avocado juice in front of me with a dreamy look.


    "I''m surprised you''re still thinking about him." Joanna shook her head lightly and then frowned even more profoundly. "Don''t tell me this is another alibi to cover up the truth."


    I swallowed. "I had another nightmarest night."


    She paused. Staring at me.


    "Magnan was in Sergio''s pub," I swallowed. "Face full of blood, and Zane Bernardi was behind her."


    Joanna straightened up. "Did you forget to take your second borther''s herbal tea?"


    "Yeah, I forgot." I looked down, picking up the piece of lobster she had separated from the shell. "I don''t know why it got mixed up with something silly."


    "You need a psychologist, a psychiatrist. Whatever."


    "I''m not crazy, Joanna."


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    My fists grew stronger. "No. Once no, still no. Theo... I just need to ask him for some more herbal tea. That should help."


    "You''ll be dependent on that damn drink," Joanna said. "You can''t go on like this, Danie."


    I paused, looking at her with growing confusion. I opened my mouth to reply, but there was amotion. Two burly men approached us. One of them hugged me and made me fall to the floor. I opened my eyes wide. Unable to process what happened, Joanna hugged me from the side, and the man beside me shouted, "Get down."


    BANG.


    BANG.


    BANG.


    A popping sound.


    People screaming.


    And a typical dinner became a bloody tragedy.


    Once again.


    <<>>>

 XXII

    I closed my eyes. The sound of gunfire, shattering debris, and the screams of people were still there. The loud shouts of a man ordering everyone out were still ringing, and others were yelling for people to get down.


    I crouched down as instructed by therge man beside me, hugging Joanna, protecting her even though there was nothing I could do. I hid Joanna within my body, holding her tightly and closing my eyes. Nothing ended.


    The sounds of gunfire were still there, dominating my hearing and mind. I bit my lip hard to keep from making a sound.


    A dinner that was supposed to be peaceful turned into chaos in an instant. The sound of gunfire echoed inside the restaurant, haunting every corner. Joanna, in my embrace, was trembling with fear. We both crouched low, trying to be invisible in the midst of the chaos.


    I tried to take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Stay calm, Joanna," I whispered, though my voice wavered. "We will get through this."


    The burly man who told us to duck now stood as a shield, protecting us from the direction of the gunfire. He looked focused, ready to face any threat.


    BANG. BANG.


    The gunfire didn''t stop. Each shot made my body shake with fear. I felt tears start to roll down my cheeks. This was too much to handle.


    "What''s happening?" Joanna whispered with worry in her voice. "Why is there a shooting?"


    "I don''t know," I replied, trying to hold back sobs. "I really don''t know."


    The burly man turned to us briefly, his eyes full of determination. "Stay here and don''t move," he ordered firmly before refocusing on the threat''s direction.


    The sound of sirens began to be heard in the distance, bringing hope that help was on the way. But each second passed slowly, as if time itself refused to move forward.


    Amid the screams and gunfire, I felt a cold hand touch my arm. "Danie," Joanna whispered again. "Are you okay?"


    I opened my mouth, stammering, looking around at the chaotic surroundings. "I''m fine. I''m okay," I replied, my voice trembling.


    "You''re shaking. You''re shivering."


    "I''m okay."


    The burly man was still standing near us, ensuring we were protected.


    Suddenly, the gunfire stopped. An ufortable silence enveloped the room, making my heartbeat sound so loud in my ears. I didn''t dare move, afraid that any movement could trigger more violence.


    The front door of the restaurant burst open, and several heavily armed police officers entered. They moved quickly, assessing the situation and securing the area. "It''s all safe now," one of them announced. "You cane out slowly." The burly man beside us nodded, signaling that we could stand. I helped Joanna up even though my body was still shaking so badly.


    "Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Torres. Are you both okay?" the man asked.


    Joanna nodded. "Danie isn''t okay. Thank you, sir," she said.


    "I''m fine," I answered, coldness taking all the warmth inside me. A w seemed to scratch at my back.


    "You''re not okay," Joanna said with concern, hugging me instead.


    "Let''s get out of here, then. Your older brother is already here."


    "DANNY!" the shout came from Damien.


    We all looked at him as he came rushing in, his face showing panic and disarray, indicating he had just arrived and hurried here. He jogged over, immediately hugging me. "Are you okay?" he asked, breaking our hug to check my face, my body. He turned to Joanna, touching her face. My head was too foggy to register Damien''s touch on Joanna. "Are you okay?"


    "I''m fine," Joanna replied. "Your sister isn''t."


    "Let''s get out of here," Damien said, standing behind us, cing his hands on our backs.


    I swallowed hard as we passed through the chaotic restaurant, carefully avoiding shards of ss and overturned tables.


    Outside the restaurant, ambnces and police cars were lined up, blue and red lights shing, creating a surreal atmosphere.


    "This doesn''t make any sense," Joanna murmured. "Who could do something like this?"


    I didn''t know what to answer. In my head, only one name kept spinning. Zane Bernardi. It had to be him. He had partnered with Garcia five years ago, and... he had exposed our whereabouts, Joanna''s and mine. It was him. It had to be him. Because who else could it be?


    "To my car. I need to take you both to my house," Damien said, gently guiding us into his Range Rover.


    I looked out the window, seeing several severely injured people being loaded into ambnces, and some people gathered around.


    Many victims were left behind.


    And damn.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    This was such a mess.

 XXIII

    "You guys should stay here tonight while I monitor your t and around town," Damien said as I just came out of my room in his house.


    I hugged myself, tightening myself with the nket I had brought as I walked over to the sofa while Joanna was already seated, two sses on the table. Damien stood, leaning against the wall, focused on his cell phone. "Who do you think attacked us?" I asked Damienn as I sat beside Joanna, who rubbed my shoulder.


    "Not sure yet. I''m not going to make any assumptions about this." He sighed. "So stay here until I make sure everything is safe."


    "Don''t tell Papa or those two." I shook my head. "They''ll take me to Madelin."


    "I already did," he replied casually. I closed my eyes. He pushed off the wall. "There are pizzas and full groceries. You two can eat that or cook. I have to go now."


    "Be careful," I muttered to him.


    Damien didn''t reply but just nodded as he stepped out of the house.


    I leaned on the sofa while Joanna looked at me worriedly. "How are you doing now?"


    I swallowed bitterly. "I''m fine," I replied. "You?"


    "I''m fine," she replied, frowning. "My condition is not important. It''s you... you''re not fine."


    "Im fine, Jo." I drew a soothing smile for her. "I''m just wondering now about who did it. Do you think it was Garcia? And that Zane Bernardi leaked our whereabouts to them?"


    "We can''t just jump to conclusions." She sighed softly. "Like your brother said. It could have been a random attack by a drunk or a robber looking to cause trouble." she continued.


    "That''s too crazy to be called a coincidence," I argued. "Right by where we''re having dinner, Jo? They could have attacked another restaurant. And it''s our favorite restaurant because they have tight security, and it''s a five-star restaurant." I shook my head again. "This can''t be a coincidence."


    "We just need to wait to hear from your brother, then," Joanna resignedly said.


    I sighed softly. "And if it''s really them, then Papa or Abraham will force us to return to Madelin," I muttered.


    "If that''s the case, then so be it."


    I blinked at her words. "Do you want us to move there?"


    "There''s no other choice. I think as long as it''s safe from any threats, then it''s okay to go back there." She said. "I can''t lose one more friend, and I don''t want to die leaving my family or you behind. That nightmare must end." She continued. I swallowed. "It won''t be over if Garciaes back to terrorize us."


    "That''s why," she sighed harshly. "...you need to leave that job. Your enemy, the man who got us into this mess, is in this city, standing before you in in sight. You must leave."


    "But Jason..." I swallowed.


    "Break him up." Cutting her off, I looked at Joanna, who stared at me firmly. "Let him find out what you and his brother did in Los Angeles. After all, the carcass will smell in the future, and you''ve been hiding it for a long time. You''ll regret itter for not telling Jason from the start."


    Joanna always gave sensible advice, even if it was too bad for my irrational side.


    "I want to speed things up to resolve our rtionship, but I want to do it in a good way."


    Joanna sighed. "Do whatever you want to do, but remember this is no longer about your feelings. It''s about your life. Garcia is hunting our lives. Use yourmon sense."


    I nodded. "I will." I hugged her and then murmured. "I''m so d you''re okay."


    She hugged me back. "Me too."


    <<<


    I drank the herbal tea that Theo gave Damien, the same drink our second brother gave me. And then, I took a sleeping pill so that my sleep wouldn''t be disturbed by potentially creepy dreams.


    Joanna still didn''t want to sleep because she had to finish her work deadline using Damien''sputer in his study room. I left her because I felt exhausted and drained, and a terrible feeling was oveing me due to the incident this afternoon. It was like I wanted to have a long sleep with no nightmares and then wake up when everything had gone well.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Iy on my side, staring at the sea from the expansive ss wall of my room. This room of mine was designed by me two years ago when it was still under construction. Although I had to argue with Damien because he thought ''his house, his decision'', even though he only wanted to make one room, as an ignorant sister, Iined to Papa and asked him to tell Damien about the room I wanted. Although reluctantly, Damien finally gave me what I wanted.


    It was a little selfish, I know, even though Papa had offered me to buy a house in the same location for me and Joanna. But, Joanna wanted a ce close to her office, and I wanted to be in the city center so it was easy to do anything. I wanted a room in Damien''s house because I liked to bully my brothers. Let''s say it was payback for Damien''s pranks when we were kids.


    When we were kids, there were so many good memories. The four of us were always close siblings, could be best friends, and liked to tease each other. We could y freely without thinking that darkness and responsibility were waiting. Oh shit, I wanted to be a kid forever. Adult life is burdensome and frustrating.


    I yawned as the fog thickened in my head.


    My eyes blinked a few times, trying to focus on the beach and the ocean, whose waves were calm and illuminated by the moonlight. If I wasn''t exhausted, I would have been there and enjoyed the beach breeze at night. It''s beautiful and refreshes the mind.


    I blinked a few times, but then my sleepiness was too much to bear. I closed my heavy eyes.


    And thest thing I saw was someone on the beach, his head looking up as if he knew my room was here.


    It was probably a hallucination.


    <<<


    "Did you see Joanna?" I ask Damien as he enters the kitchen, his face adorned with a sleep-deprived expression.


    He scratched the back of his neck as he spoke, "She''s working out."


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    "This early?" I frowned. Joanna came into the room while I was sleeping peacefullyst night and then woke up while I was still sleeping. I see her dirty clothes were in the bathroom basket when I had gone showering earlier, but I didn''t find her anywhere now.


    Damien cleared his throat and nodded, taking a step to the bar as he put a ss under the dispenser.


    I grunted and went back to putting the mushroom soup I had finished cooking into my lunchbox.


    "What''s that?"


    "Mushroom soup."


    "Why did you put it in the lunch box?"


    "I''ll have breakfast at the office."


    Damien pondered for a moment before nodding. "Let Kevin drive you today, and wait for him when you get home. He''ll pick you up, too."


    "Where should Joanna and I go?"


    "Just to your t, nothing suspicious happened."


    I nodded. "What about yesterday''s information? Who did it?"


    Damien sipped my coffee casually. I frowned at him but refrained. "Garcia."


    I stiffened.


    "But Abraham and I have solved everything, don''t worry."


    "How can I not worry?" I hissed. "That means they already know that Joanna and I are here."


    "The one who attacked you two is one of the old spies in this city, and they''ve lost contact with Carlos Garcia. Their n was to kill you first and then return to Mexico with good news." "Unfortunately, they''re already dead?" I guessed.


    "In Abraham''s hands."


    I red for a moment, but then the shock faded. I swallowed to ease the lump in my neck. It still didn''t feel right to hear that one of my brothers had taken someone else''s life.


    "It was worth it, Danny," Damien said softly, his voice soothing me. "The one who hurt you should not walk freely on the earth and breathe." He continued.


    I nodded. "Next time, don''t give me the details."


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    "What about the wounded? Are.. are the people there okay?"


    Damien sighed heavily. "One person died on the way to the hospitalst night. A man who is 40 years old, one of the managers at the restaurant. He is trying to protect the customers. From the CCTV, he was the first to be shot." A stone fell on my chest, and a tightness overcame me. My existence is taking people''s lives again.


    "It''s okay. You don''t have to feel bad. We didn''t know there was a threating, did we?"


    "But..." I sighed softly. "...give me his address details... where he''s buried and his family. Anything. I should at least confirm the condition of his family that was left behind. I have to help them. Do something." He nodded. "I''ll send it to youter."


    "Don''t tell Joanna." I wasn''t sure she could bear the burden. I don''t want to. Just me, that''s fine.


    Damien nodded again.


    "Thanks," I was about to return to my lunch, but my eyes were drawn to the hickey on his neck. I frowned. "Your sister just experienced danger, and you''re having fun with the woman of your collection?" He raised his eyebrows and stroked the hickey, grinning. "I did it afterward."


    Snorting in disgust, I shuddered, focused on organizing my lunchbox, and said, "Is Joanna at the gym in the next building?"


    "That''s what she said." he cleared his throat.


    "Okay, tell her when she returnster that I''ve prepared breakfast," I said.


    "Isn''t there anything for me?"


    I looked at him sharply but then softened. "Of course there is." I leaned closer and kissed his cheek. "I''m leaving, then. Oh yeah, and tell her that shirts and skirts are in the closet. She can wear whichever one to work." "Okay."


    "Bye."


    "Take care."


    "Sure."

 XXXIV

    I tried to focus, staying focused on my work and trying not to get distracted by anything. But I failed. A few times, my breathingbored because of the anger I was bottling up, and I realized that my enemy was only a few steps away from me. All I wanted was to go to him and then hit him over the head or p him because, obviously, the one who shot us yesterday knew our whereabouts from him.


    I was already on his radar, but he couldn''t hurt me directly because of my family''s power in this state. That''s why he used that Garcia spy. His first trick was to urge me on in another way, one that was softer and more sexual because he was sure and confident in his own charms. He must have thought that I was like the woman in his collection, quickly falling for his charms and crawling before him like a ve before they were destroyed by him.


    Zane Bernardi may think that, but I would never do that. He might have fooled me in the past, but now he won''t be able to manipte me anymore.


    The urge to go into his room was growing stronger, but I knew it would be dangerous for me, so I could only work on my coding a bit faster.


    Or, hell, it looks like I need to go to the kitchen to make some more coffee.


    "Do you want some coffee?" I asked Elsa, who was also still focused on her work.


    She looked up briefly before shaking her head. "I still have some, Danny. Thanks for the offer."


    "Okay, then," I replied. Carrying my used coffee cup to themunal kitchen.


    Hopefully, Zane Bernardi wouldn''t show up and ruin my mood.


    I poured the hot water in the teapot into my ss and returned to the room.


    "You don''t look so good right now," Elsa said.


    I raised my round-rimmed, oversized reading sses, snorting in exasperation. "Yeah, some personal problems at home. Arguing with one of my brothers. That''s normal. But I''m fine."


    Elsa nodded. "You want a gummy? Sweets can improve your mood." She said, thrusting two gummies at me before I could even say yes.


    I smiled at her. "Thanks, Elsa."


    "You''re wee, Danie." She replied, leaning back in her chair as she moved her sore neck. "Have you seen the news today?" "About what?"


    "A mass shooting at an elite restaurant on the beach."


    I stiffened.


    "It happened yesterday afternoon, and it was a huge uproar." she said again.


    "Oh yeah," I sighed. "I just read about it from an online news portal, too. It was horrible."


    "The restaurant manager died on the way to the hospital. How sad."


    "How many people were victimized?"


    "I read that there were ten people seriously injured." She shrugged, shuddering. "I wonder why there''s such a horrible person? Is he mentally ill? There were many people there. Why would he shoot at them?" "Did the police bring the perpetrator in?"


    "It looks like they have, but there''s no information from the police yet. Maybe we should just wait." She said. "San Francisco is a bit dangerous nowadays, isn''t it? I''m afraid to go out alone."


    "Yeah, the world is kind of cruel to women," I replied. "If you have nothing important to do, you shouldn''t go out. If you want to go out, you should bring your friend or your dad. It would be safe."


    She nodded. "And you don''t like going out at night?"


    I frowned. "No," I shook my head. "Yeah, just sometimes. It might be when my friend want to go to a club, or we want that pizza at the nearby cafe, the good one. We''ll go out but won''t stay out too long." And there''s always a guard around me and Joanna, they''ll protect us just like those two guys did at the restaurant yesterday. "Do you often go out to clubs?"


    "I''m not that fun." She chuckled softly. "I''d rather sleep in on a Sunday night while baking cookies. That''s more fun."


    "Baking?"


    She nodded. "I like making cakes, all kinds of cakes. Sometimes, if I want, I''ll sell them through online delivery. It doesn''t make much money, but at least I can drain my boredom."


    "That''s an excellent boredom-busting idea." I looked at her in amazement. I still can''t bake. I can only cook home-cooked food. My mom was good at it, and for a long time, she made delicious tarts when we had birthdays. I''vee to dislike the tarts sold in cake shops because I think my mum''s tarts are the best.


    "So, do you make them often?"


    "On weekends, yes." She nodded. "And you still sell those pastries?"


    "Sometimes. When I''m in the mood."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I had intended to give Jason a cake or a cookie. Instead of buying them elsewhere, I could try to buy Elsa''s. "Can you make a tart for me? I''ll pay any price." Her eyes widened. "Are you sure?"


    I nodded. "There''s... a friend of mine. It''s her birthday. I can''te, so I should at least be able to give her something. I promised her to send her a cake."


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    "I can... " she grimaced. "But I don''t know if the vor will be..."


    "It doesn''t matter about the taste. I want to buy it from you."


    "Alright," she smiled. "When will you pick it up?"


    I said, "You can make it on the weekend and bring it on Monday."


    "Thank you, Danie."


    "You''re wee, Elsa."


    We then chatted for a while before returning to our work until lunchtime. Elsa and my other coworkers had already gone to the cafeteria for lunch, but I sat, staring nkly at the view of San Francisco from the ss wall next to me. Somethingpels me to do something reckless.


    And I knew it wouldn''t calm down before I actually did it.


    I stood up and walked out of the room, not to the elevator that would take me to the cafeteria but to the left hallway that led me to the room of thispany''s big boss.


    My heart was in turmoil as I stepped through the rtively long hallway and stared at the emptiness of several other executive rooms.


    "Is Mr. Zane Bernardi inside?" I asked a woman sitting at the secretary''s desk.


    She yed with her cell phone and then looked up at me. Her eyes scanned me up and down before answering. "Mr. Bernardi is inside, but he''s busy." She replied curtly.


    I sighed. "Can''t I ask for his time? After all, it''s lunchtime."


    "Are you managing my big boss''s schedule?" she raised an eyebrow.


    Now, I''m doubting the ''don''t judge a book by its cover'' trope doesn''t work for some people. This woman certainly looks the part. She''s wearing a tight gray work dress cut so low that I can see her curvaceous cleavage. Her blond hair is flowing in waves in a frenzy on her shoulders, and her makeup is, I''m guessing, more suitable for a party than work.


    Now, I wonder why that man keeps this kind of employee in his office. Is it to refresh his eyes? Or was this secretary of his... one of his collections used just in case he wanted emergency hot sex in the office?


    It was so gross, and I was pretty sure that my gross guess was correct.


    "Please, it''s an emergency," I said quietly and gently, trying to be patient. "Please tell him that Danie Gomez wants to meet."


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    "Who are you to tell me?" she retorted arrogantly.


    I closed my eyes, suppressing my anger. If I can help it, I don''t want to take it out on Zane Bernardi''s secretary.


    "What''s going on?" the sound of the door opening, apanied by Zane Bernardi''s heavy voice, made us turn to him.


    He smiled when he saw me.


    "There''s a woman here to see you, sir. This woman." His secretary pointed at me with her pen. "I told her you were busy, but she''s stubborn."


    "You cannot restrain others who want to see me." He retorted, looking at the woman who opened her eyes wide in shock. "I''m not busy, but you are. Shouldn''t you have corrected the wrong report earlier?" She stammered. "Oh..yes, sir. I was just getting ready for lunch."


    "No lunch for you until you finish that." The man replied sharply. I frowned at him, as he looked back at me with a smile. "And you... why did you want to see me?"


    My teeth chattered. "I want to make up for what I did to you in the car yesterday. Can Ie in?"


    I didn''t mind the sound of the secretary''s gasp. Perhaps she was surprised that I was getting along so well with her boss.


    Zane Bernardi''s t face turned into a seductive grin. "Okay. Come in." He said. "If Danie wants toe in, you must let her into my office. Understood?" he ordered his secretary without turning to her. "Understood, sir." The secretary replied with a quiet squeak.


    I stepped inside and caught my breath when I saw how spacious, elegant, and beautiful his office was.


    "So what are you going to bail me out with?" he was behind me, whispering low in my ear. "A kiss? I want more than that."


    I closed my eyes, exhaling softly before I brought my elbow back hard.


    It hit his chin.


    "Here. With this."


    And then I brought my fist back to his face.

 XXV

    He didn''t have time to step back when my fistnded on his face.


    His head turned to the left with force, and he chuckled. There was blooding out of his lips, and I didn''t care about that. He deserved it. Very deserving.


    "Ah, apparently, you''re not done with your anger. I''ll regret not bringing you in even more." He straightened up with a cut and red on his lips. His lopsided grin was painted arrogantly and mischievously there.


    "Cut the crap!" I hissed. "You were the mastermind of the shooting yesterday, weren''t you?"


    Zane Bernardi raised his eyebrows. It was a casual surprise. He was probably surprised that I found out that he was the mastermind of the shooting, or maybe he was surprised about why I would find out this quickly. It could be both, and there''s absolutely no need for me to take his reasoning back innocently. He''s good at evasion. He''s a snake. Zane Bernardi would do everything he could to eat me.


    "The shooting on the beach?"


    "You''re still asking," I replied, looking at him sharply. "You and Garcia already got what you both wanted. Why not just kill me by stealth instead of brutally shooting up the restaurant? There were many people injured, and one person died. Why do you have to attract others just to kill me?"


    He was silent. His grin and ''bad boy'' expression disappeared, reced by a t expression. He stuffed both hands in his pants. "Are you using me?"


    "I know this for a fact," I replied. "You knew of my existence and leaked it to Carlos Garcia''s old spy. Before you found me, my life was peaceful. You don''t have to fool me anymore with your bullshit excuses. Who else could have leaked my whereabouts? It was you."


    He turned his head, chuckling sarcastically. "I don''t believe this."


    "Take me to them if you''re that desperate. I''ll dly die if you stop hurting others too."


    "You willingly die?"


    No, I''m not.


    I don''t like volunteering to die. I don''t want to do it. There is a future that I want to enjoy. There''s the family that continues to support me and love me. There is Joanna, who is my best friend, the one I love the most.


    But I was tired. Tired of constantly being under surveince. Tired of having to be continually aware of my surroundings. Tired of the fears that always haunted me. Of the nightmares. About the thought that Joanna would be the next target. I''m tired.


    "If it makes you all stop, then I''ll be willing."


    "You think Garcia will stop after you die?" Zane Bernardi retorted. "He''ll screw the others. Your surviving best friend might be next."


    "I''m their only concern, not Joanna''s," I replied, fire burning at the back of my eyes, threatening to release embarrassing tears in front of this man.


    He nodded in agreement with that. "Yes, only you betrayed that one small town. Only you made a twenty-year-old man die on his way home." He narrowed his eyes. "Don''t you realize that this is all because of you? Because of your family? Because of your ambitious grandfather who wants to kill all of Garcia''s cartels and use you in his bloody path?"


    No wonder he knew it all.


    He was cosa nostra.


    Until recently, the Italian mafia family was at the very top of the chain in the underworld. He could easily pick up any information.


    Memories of five years ago washed over me. I realized, very much indeed, that it wouldn''t have happened if I''d been able to refuse the orders of Javier Rodriguez, my grandfather. But I was young, and I was scared. I didn''t even tell my parents because of my grandfather''s orders. He knew that my parents would reject my involvement with the cartel, and they would strongly reject the idea. So, my grandfather sent me there secretly, and I went on the mission in silence. My parents only knew that I was in college in New York, and Grandpa orchestrated the whole lie to Papa. This was good nonsense but left asting mark until my three brothers found out andined to Papa about our grandfather''s behavior. But Papa couldn''t do anything in enemy territory, and all I could do was do what Grandpa told me to do.


    Until it stopped being a bloody tragedy.


    I should have been more mature back then to refuse. That I was just a weapon my own grandfather used. That I was a walking bomb that would kill those near me.


    That twenty-year-old man became my first target. Jonas... I used to dislike him because he teased me when I worked at the small pub and made dirty jokes at me. He liked tennis, and although he was annoying, I didn''t shoot him because of his personal behavior towards me, despite all that. I wouldn''t shoot just any guy because they teased me.


    I shot him because he was one of Carlos Garcia''s loyal men.


    And I regret it very much. I didn''t eat anything that Magnan and Joanna cooked after that. I didn''t touch a bit of a meal or go out for a week. It took time to heal before my grandfather gave me his beautiful words. Forcing me to keep going before Garcia killed me.


    And it was toote.


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    Regrets about the life I took are meaningless.


    All I did was pick up the pieces of the chance to survive, to take the time to make things right. To be free. To be happy. To be able to stand up for myself and take the life of Carlos Garcia or his son, knowing that it all stemmed from my grandfather''s foul n.


    Now my grandfather was gone, and I was sure he was writhing in hell and disappointed at the failure of my mission.


    I stared nkly at Zane Bernardi as I spoke. "They already took Magnan''s life. It was even, and when we asked to stop. They wouldn''t."


    "Of course, they didn''t," he chuckled, full of sarcasm. "Garcia..." he shook his head. "Their cartel is already on the brink because of you." He tilted his head. "You''re the one who is the petite woman, who has the small hands, who hides all the darkness in your adorable facade. You ruin them all."


    I swallowed. "So you showed up, bothered me at the club, and bothered me here to get me in front of Carlos Garcia?"


    "I don''t like being ordered around, Darling, let alone using my clean hands to do something dirty like that," he said so smugly. "They have nothing on me. You could say I''ve cut off all business between us."


    "So why are you bothering me?"


    "Ah, first. I should have asked." He said when he advanced slowly, with a deadly step. "Why are you approaching my brother? Are you using him to bring me down? Have you already devised a n in your pretty head to get back at me through him?"


    I frowned. "I didn''t even know you were his brother!" I eximed lowly, biting my tongue a little forcefully to hold back more annoyance. "You didn''t introduce yourself as Zane Bernardi five years ago. Your name is Danzel, and you were in Italy. Not here." I pressed. "I didn''t know anything about you, and Jason didn''t tell me what you looked like, and you think I had time to think of that n when I didn''t find out anything about you because you were disguised as Danzel? While here, I''m busy being vignt about Garcia possibly finding me?!"


    He looked down, and when I finished babbling, I realized that we were so close. His sexy scent re-entered my sense of smell, and I had to look up to gaze at his handsome face.


    "So when you found out that I was Bernardi... what did you intend to do?"


    "Break up with Jason, so that we wouldn''t have a chance to see each other again!" I replied.


    "Looks like that didn''t work," his right hand moved towards me, hanging over my head, but I backed away.


    "That will happen. I haven''t met up with him yet, and it took us a good time to break up."


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    I swallowed. "I will, and I don''t care anymore as long as he agrees to break us up."


    "Go for it, I''m rooting for you."


    I frowned.


    "Whether you''re with him or not, we''ll still see each other. You''re stuck with me here."


    "I''m going to resign from this project. You can carry out your threat."


    He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"


    "Yes."


    "What if I say you can''t resign?"


    "You''re not my boss." I blinked.


    "I am, but I have more than enough to destroy this project."


    I red. "You can''t do that."


    "I can do anything, Danie darling."


    "Stop calling me darling." I snapped at him. "What do you want from me?!"


    He advances quickly, putting both hands on my face. "Our five-year game is not over, darling."

 XXVI

    Games. *Games*.


    I am trying to figure out what game we''re doing. I don''t understand. All we did was stare at each other in the pub. He took me to Rodriguez''s hotel, and then we did... things I''d never done with another man. Papa''s hotel was in another city that took two hours to get to. It had nothing to do with our family''s illicit business, but rather, it was one of Papa''s legal ies. It was clean of all things mafia.


    I leaned back in my chair. It was four o''clock in the afternoon, and my part was done. I was just waiting for the time to go home. Waiting for my mood to break.


    I walked out of the man''s room after I punched him in the face again because he was about to kiss me again. My defensive nature hade out brutally when it came to Zane Bernardi and what he did.


    I stared at the visible sea in the distance and thought about what he had said about him breaking off his cooperation with Garcia and not leaking my existence to Garcia''s spies. Inside me... I couldn''t ept the fact that it wasn''t Zane Bernardi who did it. Damien said they were Garcia''s old spies who had been in San Francisco for a long time. Then why would they find me now? Why was the timing so perfect with Zane Bernardi all around me?


    My mind was racing. I felt like I was ying chess, but I had yet to learn who the opponent was and what his next move would be. Zane Bernardi could be lying. He was good at that. Or maybe he was telling the truth, and I was just being overly paranoid. But what if I''m right? If he was the one who leaked my whereabouts? Or worse, if he was working with Garcia behind the scenes?


    I massaged my temples, trying to shake off the fatigue. It was like being in a maze with no way out. Every turn only led to another dead end. I had to find a way to get out of this situation. Confronting Zane Bernardi was no solution. Resigning might reduce our interactions, but that''s no guarantee he''ll stop bothering me. Plus, he''s already threatened me with a game of God knows what.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Disappearingpletely isn''t an option either, not if I still want to continue my life and protect the people I love.


    I may need help. Not from my brothers, who will surely make a big mess, but from someone who can infiltrate Zane''swork and gather information. Someone who knows how to y in this shadowy world without attracting attention. I let out a long breath, trying to calm my nerves. The first step was to calm down and think clearly. Panicking would only lead me to make mistakes.


    "All right, Danie," I whispered to myself. "You''ve been through worse. You can handle this."


    With a slight weight on my chest and my mood still in turmoil, I stood up and organized my things. It was time to go home, even if it was just for a few moments to feel safe at home. At least I could think better and n my next move. However, before that, I had to meet someone. Someone who might be able to help me untangle these tangles. Someone who once promised to always be there for me, no matter what.


    I picked up my phone and typed a short message.


    To: Mr. J.


    Can we meet? I have something to talk about.


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    It didn''t take long before a reply came.


    From: Mr. J.


    I didn''t expect Princessa Rodriguez to want to meet. This is really special. Is this about you being my girlfriend and asking me out?


    I chuckled, swearing under my breath at the man''s reply.


    To: Mr. J.


    Sorry, but no. It''s not about that. I want to give you a job.


    From: Mr. J.


    I''m more than happy to hear that. I''ll wait for you at our usual ce this evening.


    To: Mr. J.


    Okay.


    I smiled slightly. Mr. J had always been another person I could rely on, and this time, I really needed his help and his performance.


    With slow steps, I walked out of the office, the urgent weight on my chest unprepared for whatever was toe. I knew it wouldn''t be easy, but I also knew that I wasn''t alone. And as long as I have my family and my best friend, I''ll be fine. For now, I''ll let go of the reckless thought of dying.

 XXVII

    The rather burly man with a hoodie sweater and ripped jeans in front of me was Mr. J.


    His real name is Januar Lopez. Twenty-seven years old, a college ssmate of mine, and a multiple-time winner of an illegal hacker contest at one of Bogota''s famous gambling joints. I once identally met him in apetition held in one of Abraham''s friend''s dirty basements. I came there to look around while apanying Abraham, who wanted to meet his friend.


    Back then, we weren''t close at all, and we only knew each other''s names. I didn''t have any friends because I entered college at the age of sixteen. Yes, I was elerated twice when I entered elementary school and then middle school because my teachers said I was too bright. I doubted that.


    I never wanted to socialize at all because I was so youngpared to them, and I was too awkward to make the first move. So, all I did in college in Bogota was go home to my grandparents'' house, since my parents'' house was in Madelin, and then study.


    We became close friends after I saw him there. Long story short, he was surprised to see me there. Where the basement was always a ce of crime and illegal boxing. Januar almost pulled me out because he thought that a man framed me or just randomly walked in here by me out of curiosity. But Abraham then blocked him and almost punched him if I didn''t stop him. Januar knew Abraham. My brother often went there to relieve his fatigue or join in on the boxing game.. which he ended up having to stop because my grandmother nagged him.


    From there, Januar and I became friends. He often yed the game, and I frequently saw him. On campus, we became close because we usually studied together and sometimes spent our free time hanging out at the cafe near the campus. I once thought that I liked him, but I didn''t.


    Despite his extraordinary intelligence, he was a mischievous, motorcycle gang, risk-taking kind of boy. Take that underground base, for example. No one would risk going even when they were offered a million dors. But Januar would take it even if it was only worth two cent. And I had always been a home girl with a tight guard, and I was always afraid that if one of my guards saw me and Januar dating, Papa would be furious and send me to Madelin. Plus, Januar wasn''t my type. He was too wild and unpredictable. Sometimes, my head is spinning when I get news of his location. One hour, he might be in Bogota, and two hourster, he''s already on his way to Juneau, ska, and then five hourster, he''ll be in Ontario, Canada. He was always like that. Moving around and unable to settle in one ce.


    "You''re just going to shut up? I don''t have much time to talk to you. I''m swamped, you know." Januar snorted in annoyance.


    He was now a member of the United States Cyber Team on duty in California. Even so, he was still a deep-cover who now worked under the orders of Abraham, whose identity was disguised as Mr. J.


    "I''m still thinking about how to tell you this."


    He frowned. "Just tell me."


    "I need your help to investigate someone," I said finally, my voice shaking slightly.


    Januar, or Mr. J, tilted his head, his facial expression turning serious. "Who should I investigate? And what do you need from me?"


    I took a deep breath. "Zane Bernardi. I need to know everything about him. All his connections, all his movements, and if possible, find evidence that he leaked my whereabouts to Garcia."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Januar raised his eyebrows, then leaned back. "Bernardi? He''s not just anyone. You know how dangerous it is to deal with someone like him, right?"


    "Yes, I know," I replied firmly. "But I have no other choice. He could be the reason all this is happening. I need reassurance."


    He sighed and looked at me sharply. "You know, this could end badly. But I''m going to do it. Not just because you asked, but because I know you wouldn''t havee to me if it wasn''t something important." He frowned, studying me closely. "What happened between you two?"


    I bit my lip. "He''s Danzel."


    His eyes widened. "The guy you met on the mission in Mexico five years ago?"


    I nodded. "Yes."


    Januar also knew about it, not because I told him but because he had a close connection with Abraham. Januar was one of the people who made my and Joanna''s existence disappear. "Howe?"


    "That''s a long story." I sighed loudly, drinking my orange juice. "Just bad luck."


    "And you want to know if he was the mastermind behind yesterday''s shooting?"


    "Yes," even though Zane Bernardi said that he and Garcia had nothing to do with each other, I still didn''t believe him. "So that I can be more vignt."


    "He''s here?"


    "Scavi Titanio is one of his subsidiaries, and he''s here." And I wondered why the man hadn''t returned to New York, where he came from. "And... by ident, Royal Ridge hitched a ride in their office. That led me to meet him." Januar''s face was filled with shock. "You.. God, why is this so coincidental?"


    "I don''t know." I shook my head softly.


    "All you had to do was quit that job, Danny. That was the easy part."


    "He threatened me, J." I shook my head, not wanting to talk about Zane Bernardi''s absurd threats. "I''m trapped now."


    "Zane Bernardi threatened you?" Januar looked genuinely shocked. "That''s serious, Danny. Threats from a man like him are no joke."


    I nodded slowly, feeling the tension in my shoulders growing heavier. "Yes, he threatened to make my life miserable if I tried to quit this job."


    Januar let out a long sigh and refocused on hisptop screen. "Okay, I understand. I''ll see what I can find out about him. But it won''t be easy, and it might take some time."


    I looked at him expectantly. "Thanks, J. I really need your help."


    He looked at me with worried eyes. "I will. But you have to be careful too, Danny. You can''t be careless with someone like Bernardi."


    I smiled weakly. "I will be careful." I looked at him expectantly. "Please don''t tell this to Abraham. Please."


    He sighed heavily because it was indeed hard work. "I''ll try to keep this from him."


    "If he starts to get suspicious, let me know."


    "I will."


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