Author: Admin

  • The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 53&54

    The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 53&54

     

    THE MAFIA’S DEADLY DEVOTION

    The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 53&54

     (..Stuck with the mafia boss..)

    By; Cherry Love F.

    “And one more thing, I’m not yours. I’m not an object, i have feelings too and i do not need you in my life”. Emily uttered. “You’ve always got this shield around yourself, bottling everything up like you’re the strongest person in the world……. but not anymore, I’m tired of you claiming that I matter to you one minute, then behaving like i don’t exist, the next. Just leave me alone”.

    Bryan’s smirk only widened more and he licked his lips which Emily’s taste lingered on. 

    “You’ve heard her, man”. He said.

    Angelo chuckled slowly, it wasn’t an ordinary chuckle, it was a humorlessly sinister laugh and as if on cue, thunder roared in the sky, making Emily flinch. 

    “Come on”. Emily murmured and stood up, urging Bryan to do the same.

    “My house is around the corner”. Bryan said, leaning on Emily as they walked. Angelo’s gaze followed, his expression neutral but even that wouldn’t hide the fight that he felt something. Pain?, Anger?, He didn’t even know and it was freaking maddening!.

    The walk to Bryan’s house was short, Emily helped him to lay on his sofa. The house was moderate, not too big or too small just comfortable.

    “Feel at home, em”. Bryan smiled, holding his aching side. “And i love what you did out there”. He added but Emily wasn’t there, she was in the kitchen and soon came out with a hot water bag in hand.

    “Emily…

    “Don’t say anything please, this is my fault”. Emily shushed, handing him the bag and hurrying out, only to come back again with a wet towel.

    Bryan watched her as she cleaned up his face, even when she rolled up his shirt to clean a few blood stains, he just stared at her, smiling like a goner.

    “All done”. She finally said.

    “Thanks, you didn’t have to do it though”. Bryan shook his head.

    “No, it’s my fault”.

    “No, it’s not. It’s that crazy bastard, i don’t know what he wants from you but I’ll protect you if he tries to hurt you”. Bryan said protectively.

    “He’ll never hurt me”. Emily blurted out before she could stop herself.

    “What?”. 

    “No-nothing, I have to go”. She stood up and Bryan grabbed her arm.

    “It may rain soon, why don’t you stay longer?”. He offered and she shook her head.

    “I’ll see you later, okay?, Bye”. 

    With that, she rushed out. Closing the door behind her, Emily took a deep breath and started walking slowly back to the spot where Angelo was, thinking he had left. But to her surprise, Angelo was still standing there, watching her like a predator does its prey.

    Emily walked until she was a few metres away from him and they just stared at each other wordlessly for five minutes straight. Angelo was the first to break the silence.

    “I didn’t kill your aunt for such a petty reason”. He said then paused as if unsure of continuing or just leaving it at that.

    Emily blinked slowly. Surely there wasn’t any animosity between them. After her parents, aunt rosette was the nicest person on Earth.

    “She was the cause of my mother’s death, i promised myself to forgive her but…i couldn’t”. He mumbled.

    “No. That’s not possible!”. Emily yelled, shaking her head. “Stop lying to me”.

    “You can either believe or not, i don’t care”. Angelo shrugged. 

    Flashback*

    Few weeks after Angela fled from the house, Angelo made sure to visit her everyday, despite all of Anthony’s threats, he didn’t disclose her location to anyone except Alyssa and she even went with him a couple of times but on this particular day, he skipped school. Angelo just finished his intense training practice and wanted to see Angela, he didn’t know why but he felt weird. So as soon as no one was watching, he fled. Except Anthony saw him and sent a few men after him.

    *

    Angela ran to her best friend’s house desperately knocking on the door. She soon opened up and looked at her, confused.

    “What’s wrong?”. 

    “They’re here for me, Rosie, they won’t rest till they kill me”. Angela rushed.

    “Alfred?”. 

    “He sent his men”. 

    (Alfred is her ex that’s obsessed with her and now wants to kill her because she rejected his love).

    “Let me in”. Angela rushed but rosette wouldn’t budge.

    “I’m sorry”. Rosette mumbled. Then two men came out of the trimmed bushes with grins on their faces.

    “Rosie?”. Angela stumbled and rosette blinked back tears.

    “I’m really sorry”. She repeated, stepping back to let the men enter. Angela shook her head as the men got closer, she tried to run but Rosette blocked her.

    “She couldn’t resist the money”. One of the men, Nicholas said smugly.

    “I promised to help you”. Angela said defeated, then the men lunged.

    *

    Angelo ran as fast as he could, his breath hitching with every track but he wouldn’t stop. Not until he reached, and he did. And the house was empty, everything was upturned like there was a fight there.

    “Mom?!”. He called out but no response. “Mom?”. Still. No response.

    Then he found a note there. With shaky hands, he picked it up and read. 

    ‘I love you Angelo’.

    No!

    No!

    No! F+cking no!

    Was all Angelo could think about, he knew they had enemies but he didn’t know them nor why they would hurt his mother.

    Then his senses snapped and he was up and running again. He ran and ran. Into the woods and every place he could think of until he remembered her best friend. Aunt Rosette was her name.

    With newly found determination, he ran to Aunt rosette’s house and knocked on the door impatiently. She opened up and greeted him with a smile.

    “Auntie, have you seen my mom?”. Angelo asked and she smiled again, ushering him in.

    “Take a deep breath dear, your mom is here”. Aunt rosette said.

    Angelo breathed out finally.

    “Mom???”. He called again but there was no answer. Then he looked at her in confusion.

    “Why are you in such a hurry, Angelo?, Your mom is safe and you are, too…..

    “Angelo”. Angela rushed in and pulled him hardly, behind her, glaring at Aunt Rosette.

    “You backstabbing bi+ch, stay away from my son”. She yelled and Aunt rosette gulped.

    “Mom, what are you talking about?”. Angelo asked.

    “We’ve got to go, Angelo. There’s no time”. Angela rushed to the door, then four men armed to the teeth burst in through the door, with a bag full of money, siezing both Angelo and Angela.

    Aunt rosette took the money in the bag and walked to the door, then looked over her shoulder.

    “If you ever will, forgive me in your next life, gela”. She said and walked away.

    Angelo felt tears sting but blinked them back. The men dragged them to a lake, and no matter how many times Angela struggled, she couldn’t shake them off. She held eye contact with Angelo and nodded at him, mouthing ‘I love you’. 

    “I love you too mom”. Angelo cried. 

    Angela pretended to faint and the two men holding Angelo panicked and stepped forward, their hard grip loosening a bit. Angelo seized the opportunity to wriggle his way out of their grip. He knew what he had to do. Get help. 

    Angelo ran but only made it to a small covering when an ear piercing scream sounded. 

    The source of his nightmares.

    Angelo stopped abruptly and turned, Nicholas had shot Angela on her stomach. He wanted to run to her but she pinned him down with her eyes that were red now. Then Vlad grinned and took his gun and aimed at her chest.

    “No one messes with our boss”. Vlad had said and shot her again.

    In her skull.

    Angela dropped to the ground, lifeless, Angelo dropped too from where he stood and they fled. He ran over to her and she was barely breathing.

    Then she opened her hand to reveal a silver chain necklace that shone in the sun and handed it to him.

    “I-i love you, Angelo”. 

    She never lived to hear him say it back. Angelo lost his breath then and fainted.

     Angelo had marked their faces that day and sworn to avenge his mother’s death.

    Present*

    “And you did”. Emily finished, tears dropping from her eyes as she stared at Angelo. He nodded.

    “All of them are dead but she is, too”. He mumbled, then snapped out of it. It was raining now.  Angelo could feel all the emotions he locked away threatening to come back up and he couldn’t let that happen.

    Angelo straightened up and walked over to his car door, he got in and drove off, driving even faster than usual. Thunder rumbled in the sky as he left and Emily was left alone with the pouring rain. Gradually, she slipped to the floor and cried for who knows how long.

    *

    It was past 7pm when Emily finally got back home, all drenched from the rain. Ava rushed up to her, accompanied by Laura.

    “Why are you so wet?”. Laura asked, worriedly.

    “It rained”. Emily sounded robotically. Her eyes were all puffy and red from crying. She was even beginning to feel dizzy.

    “How was your date?”. Ava asked.

    “I just want to sleep”. Emily mumbled.

    “Emily, what’s wrong?”. Brad asked.

    “I’m fine”. Emily went to her room, and burried her face in the pillow.

    “I told you not to force her to date that Bryan guy”. Brad said accusingly.

    “I only wanted to help her”. Laura frowned.

    “But mom, you made her swear that she’ll never see Angelo again”. Ava snapped.

    “I know…. it’s for her own good”. Laura mumbled.

    “Is it?, Really?”. Ava scoffed and went to her room.

    “Are you thinking what I’m thinking!?”. Laura asked Brad.

    “She’s in love with him”. Brad said slowly.

    Angelo’s mansion*

    A figure in black crept back into the mansion sneakily, then glanced at the subtle CCTV camera on the ceiling, then he threw a shoe at it, breaking the object. The CCTV camera was smartly hidden in a way that you had to be there when it was installed to actually know that there was one in the room.

    It was that discreet.

    *

    Alyssa put down her wine glass and stared fixedly at Carlos who was deep in thought.

    “Why is Angelo like this?, He doesn’t listen to the queen mother at all anymore and he’s not even picking my calls”. She frowned.

    “He’s fine….. going to be fine, he’s dealing with a lot right now and he’s not answering my call either but you know Angelo, he’s strong enough”. Carlos shrugged.

    “But still….. he’s distancing himself from me again. It hurts so badly, i didn’t like Emily here before but now i just wish the damn girl will just come back here and undo everything she has done to my brother already”. Alyssa cried out.

    “It’s okay baby”. Carlos pulled her to his lap and she snuggled into his neck.

    “I miss him so darn much”. 

    “We all do”. Carlos patted her head.

    MAFIA HEADQUARTERS

    At 12am, Katherine was still training, her temper wearing thin and she could easily snap at the slightest provocation. 

    She and Hades were training together since he insisted on not leaving her alone. 

     

    “I don’t get why you have to train so hard, we don’t have any upcoming missions”. Hades tried to reason.

    “I can’t have the queen mother looking down on me like this. I’m way more experienced than Angelo, I’ve never cared about inheriting the clan but I’m her heir, she can’t just give it all away to Angelo”. Katherine raged.

    “Woah woah, aren’t we on Angelo’s side?, The queen mother is pressuring him too much, we should be here to support him not try to surpass him”. Hades frowned.

    “Whatever. I’m gonna have what I deserve. No matter what it takes”. Katherine smirked.

    .

    .

    Next Episode 

    Previous Episode 

  • Twisted Empire – Episode 103&104

    Twisted Empire – Episode 103&104

     

    TWISTED EMPIRE

    Twisted Empire – Episode 103&104

    (Her Blade, His Neck )

    ________________________

    All rights reserved.

    No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

    Copyright © 2025 

    by Naomi Cindy B.

    __________________________

    “Why have you been keeping quiet? Why did you develop agoraphobia and stayed indoors for years when you weren’t the one who made the call?” Yulia asked after she pulled away from the hug.

    “My phone was used, and even if Axel didn’t do it, I was gonna do it before I passed out.” Four said.

    “No! You’d never do that! I know you, Eros. I know how much you love and adore that couple even till now! So don’t give me crap about how you’d have done it! You wouldn’t have done it! Even if there’s just a little space left between your thumb and the dialling icon, I’m sure you’d have stopped. The other time when Vaughn got hurt by the guitar strings, you insisted on taking him to the hospital over that small wound.” Yulia said, and Four gave her a small look, dragging his eyes over her own.

                             • Age 10 •

    Vaughn sat in the large living room of the DeVille Castle, playing the zither while Four sat in front of him with a jotter, looking at the man and jotting down the points he’s catching on how to play the instrument.

    “Are you jotting?” Vaughn asked, stopping the play.

    “How did you know?” Four looked up.

    “I might be blind, but I have sharp ears, and I can hear the way your pen is kissing your jotter.” Vaughn explained.

    “You have to be the most intelligent blind man I’ve ever met. You’re medically intelligent, artistically you’re a painter and a zither player, you’re even good at games” Four said respectfully.

    “I’m trying in the computer part, too. Now don’t call me a wizard.” Vaughn smiled, adjusting his black shades.

    “You’re a wizard, sir.” Four replied, and the man laughed shortly.

    “Why do you love brown so much?” He suddenly asked.

    “How did you know?” Four blinked.

    “My wife said it, that you’re always on brown.” 

    “It’s a secret, and I’m not telling it to anyone till I grow. Maybe I’ll tell my future wife first?” Four shrugged.

    “Great, I have a feeling you’re a romanticist.” Vaughn said.

    “I just wanna do normal love, not the exaggerated shit.” Four flatly replied.

    “Shit? You’re too young to curse” Vaughn said.

    “What the f+ck? I’m 10!” Four replied, and Vaughn laughed.

    “I might get my first car in color brown cos of you.” He said.

    “That’d be an honor.” Four grinned, and Vaughn nodded, his smile still intact.

    Four suddenly dropped his jotter and went to the man, giving him a hug.

    “Heyy” Vaughn dropped the zither abd hugged him too.

    “I just want you to be happy with your wife Rue and your child for the rest of your life. Just live. You’re like my second father, so you dare not die anytime soon.” Four said.

    “Of course. No one’s dying, sweet boy.” Vaughn chuckled, tightening their hug.

    Meanwhile, Rue and Yulia are by the other side of the living room.

    Rue is the one doing the painting today, and she’s almost done with the galaxy she’s painting, but she has paused right now, and she’s staring at Vaughn and Four.

    Yulia is staring, too.

    “They’re so sweet and close to each other, I might just cry.” Yulia smiled.

    “Your son…Four. If he gets hooked with any lady in the future, then the lady is lucky. He’s not only handsome, but sweet. Vaughn loves him more than me, always talking about him whenever we’re chatting at home.” Rue smiled back.

    “Any lady? But my son will marry your daughter.” Yulia said.

    “What!” Rue faced her. “No…I didn’t mean it that way. Isn’t Four already in a platonic relationship with a girl?” 

    “It won’t last, they’d probably grow tired of each other before the year ends. You told me a lot about your daughter and how she has refused to let you grow her hair, I love stubborn females, I feel like she’d be the perfect match for him.” Yulia pulled out the agreement to bethrotal documents.

    “Lady Yulia!” Rue gasped in shock.

    “Yunno I lost three babies before Four, right? First one was a girl—Ruby who died after a month. Second one was a boy—Oliver who died after a month too. Third one was Ronnie, a boy who died too before Four came as the fourth one and comforted me by staying, then I had Axel and he stayed too.” Yulia narrated.

    “Did you find the cause of these dead childs till now?” Rue asked pitifully.

    “No, but I was a gin addict back then, and I have a gut feeling that it was the gin from the store. Maybe my babies didn’t like gin, but I couldn’t stop drinking, and yunno Pedro is mostly at the base, so there was no one to stop me.” Yulia sighed.

    “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.” Rue said.

    “I’m telling you all these cos I want you to know why I really want your daughter for my son. He’s my life, and I won’t want him to suffer any part of his existence, even his love life.” Yulia nodded.

    “I understand…” Rue smiled, taking the documents from her.

    “I also want a stable relationship for my daughter in the future, too. And Four is a sweet boy, so this is just great. I’ll talk to Vaughn after I finish this painting, and we’ll sign. The kids don’t have to know about it yet, right?” Rue asked.

    “Of course, thank you Rue!” Yulia hugged her.

    Vaughn has resumed playing the zither right now, but his abrupt gasp made the two of them break the hug.

    The zither strings actually gave him a slight cut.

    “Mr. Ambrose!” Four gasped, taking the finger that’s bleeding slightly.

    “Let’s get you to the hospital!”

    “What! No. It’s just a minor cut, why should we go to the hospital?” Vaughn declined.

    “But you might get tetanus!” Four protested.

    “You think tetanus is that easy to get?” Rue joined them. “You care too much about my husband and I’m jealous”

    “Pedro would be the most jealous if he sees his son showering Vaughn with this much attention.” Yulia added, and Vaughn laughed heartily with Rue while Yulia chuckled.

    Four smiled.

                       • Present Time •

    “So you signed the bethrotal documents that same day?” Four asked.

    “Of course, I wanted the best love life for you and I know I didn’t chose wrong. Now I just need you to take the antidote for your scar and prepare for the war. Get to the training field and join the armies in the preparations. Act nonchalant, and things would go fine. The lives of thousands of citizens is in your hands, so don’t jinx it.” Yulia tapped him.

    “If you jinx this, then you’d be disappointing Pedro up there, and that can’t happen. Please, just trust this.” Yulia tapped him again.

    Slowly, Four brought the small pill out of his pocket. He threw it in his mouth and drank some water to swallow, then he stood.

    He took off his uniform shirt, opening the scar to the air as he walked shirtless out of the suite.

    Yulia followed him, they marched to the field together.

    As expected, the training is on hold as everyone is with their phones, watching the torture show of the four criminals by Usman.

    But as Four marched in, they all dropped their phones quickly, and Kash rushed to him.

    “Sorry, sir. Even I couldn’t concentrate, and they’re scared of going to war, yunno … Usman’s human robots.” He said.

    Four climbed the highest place in the field so he could view the armies from there.

    Every single army is present, just that the squad members are in the front except Stormy who has already left the base and Paine who’s still unconscious at the clinic.

    “You wanna get discharged and go home? You’re scared to go to the war? You’re wary of the human robots? Then drop your weapons right now, go back to your barracks, pack your luggage and go home.” He announced.

    Silence was what he got as a response at first, but then some armies started leaving, majorly Privates.

    Twenty of them left

    There are 700+ armies remaining now, and Four’s jaws grinded.

    “No more cowards? Then y’all drop your phones, you’re not to use that device till after the war. Get on the field and choose a weapon you’re more familiar with. You’d get guided by the seniors and me. No slacks, no sleep, no chats. You can only take breaks to eat or use the bathroom.” He addressed.

    “Yes sir!!” The hundreds of armies replied in a hoarse chorus.

    Yulia smiled satisfactorily as the field got busy.

    [Usman Lab]

    Teal sat at a corner in the dreamy world, resting her elbows on the table and looking around again.

    Looking around is all she has been doing here since she came. If she’s not training alone in the gym, then she’d be here gawking.

    Her fingers are webbed, and the pregnancy test strip feels heavy in her pocket.

    Theo came with the concoction cup which he dropped in front of her.

    “From the kitchen. You should take it while it’s hot, and you’d bleed out the pregnancy without feeling pains at all.” He instructed.

    Teal took the cup without replying, and Theo left.

    She stared into the porcelain cup, looking at the brown liquid as if gauging it with her eyes.

    She lifted it up to her lips, and one minute later, she dropped the cup from her lips and went inside with it.

    When she came back outside, the cup is already gone from her. She met Rue by the door.

    “Already drank it?” She asked, touching her hair.

    Teal nodded.

    “How do you feel? The little drop of blood will soon wet your underwear, I suggest you go rest inside.” Rue said.

    “I’ll go inside when I feel funky.” Teal replied, and Rue nodded.

    “Ma’am, Axel is done.” A scientist reported to her.

    Rue followed him to Axel’s corner where Axel is sitting up in bed. His head is still bandaged.

    He looks confused.

    “Welcome back to life, Axel DeVille. Your head is officially a control box right now. There’s no time to work on the rest of your body, maybe after the war. But for now, you work according to your head says.” She said.

    Axel nodded, and Rue smiled evilly, stroking his hair.

    Teal stayed behind, watching everything.

    Her eyes caught Theo at the other side of the lab. He’s sitting on a stool, rubbing the necklace on his neck absentmindedly.

    When his eyes met with Teal’s, he looked away and left the stool.

    Teal went inside—into the big luxurious room she was given.

    She paced around for a long minute, thinking hard leaving the room, staring up at the light bulbs.

    There are different sizes and they’re all fluorescent.

    Even the smallest light here is on. The lightning is in excess, and they never flicker at all no matter the power consumption from the lab.

    She went down the hall—to the power house of the lab.

    [Jason’s House, 4 Days Later]

    Jason has accommodated both Gem and Xanthe since the start of this turbulence.

    Thankfully, his house is hidden well, so there are no reporters.

    Xanthe and Gem get questioned by the cops daily though, but the cops are smart enough to do it low-key so they won’t alert the crazy reporters.

    The interrogating cops left not long ago, and both Gem and Xanthe returned to the bedroom.

    “How was it?” Jason asked, dropping his cup of groundnut.

    “Light, just ok. They weren’t too persistent with questions.” Xanthe replied, sitting beside him.

    Gem sat opposite them, looking better than she looked when she just came out of the annex 

    At least she’s now wearing clean, pretty clothes and her hair is well kept. Her skin is still rough, but if she’s consistent with the skin care routine, it’d be back to normal soon. And thanks to the halo vial from Uncle Paul, her mental health is improving.

    “Why is the television not on? Today is the sixth day, the last day of the soap opera. The four criminals are gonna die today and I’d love to watch Empress’s cries.” Gem said.

    Jason got down from the bed.

    “But tommorow is the war, and I’m so fuckin worried especially now that Usman has Teal. I’m not in the mood to watch Usman’s soap opera, maybe I can watch the rerun If my General is ok after the war.” He replied, leaving the room.

    “I’ll watch alone then, I’m optimistic.” Gem shrugged, putting on the TV.

    She went to sit beside Xanthe, but Xanthe stood.

    “I’ll be right back,” he nodded at her, rushing out of the room to meet Jason outside.

    “Hey, Jason!” He hollered. 

    Jason turned around by the door. “Why are you here? I told you to spend as much time as you can with her. She obviously missed you.” 

    Xanthe came closer and gently took his left hand.

    With a blank face, Jason looked at the contact, then at his face.

    “We’re still close, right? Like we were before.” He said.

    “Of course” Jason pushed his forehead with a finger. “Soft boy.”

    Xanthe smiled, and before Jason knew it, he already hugged him.

    Jason hesitated, but he eventually hugged him back, tightly.

    [Torture Media]

    The state of the four criminals at the moment could only be described as life—and-death.

    They’re far from life and are drawing closer to death every minute. Today being their last day makes it worse.

    They’re all slumped on their hanging chairs, barely breathing and heads knocking out of their bodies.

    Their bodies are near purple with the bruises and cuts and chain scratches.

    There are metals on their laps like nails, and there’s another metal on their back which crossed over the chair backrest to their backbone then their inner flesh.

    Another one is on their forelegs which connected it to the chair legs, so one could say there are nails on every important bones in their bodies except their heads.

    Their blood already painted the chairs red, and their skins gummed to their clothes already. The smell of their blood is rotten since they’ve been bleeding since six days ago without stop, and their hair is already pulling—hair loss as a result of stress and torture.

    Today, Rue is below the chairs, standing on a podium like a judge, wearing all white like an angel.

    She’s holding a small microphone which carried her voice around the torture house.

    “As the last day, we should at least give the viewers their money’s worth, don’t you think?” She spoke, looking up at the chairs.

    “I’ve always known you’re a bîtch, I shouldn’t have only messed with your womb, I should have messed with your life instead” Empress said, her voice lacking life.

    Rue stayed silent.

    “What? Surprised I’m talking? You’ll kill me anyways, so I’m just gonna pour out my thoughts.” Empress said again, and a single small spike ball was released from her head angle.

    If fell on her head, peeling off a part of her skull to her face and bathing her in more blood.

    Empress cried loudly, unable to even struggle with the pains. She could only move her broken head.

    The other criminals were starting to shiver in fear on their chairs again.

    “I must say, your powder is potent. I mean… I’m a medical guru, but I still wasn’t able to get the antidote or create one. I give you 50 for that.” Rue smiled sickly, moving her face to Katerina.

    “So it was you… The one who colluded with Four to make the call, cos you wanted Spyros for yourself alone? A man I wasn’t a bit interested in?” She sneered.

    “I…I was stupid…I really was… stupid.” Katerina stuttered.

    “And you… Spyros…” Rue moved to him.

    “I’m…I’m sorry ….I’m so sorry. Please have mercy. Please!!!” Spyros screamed, and that seemed to anger Rue cos she released a spike ball to his head too. His face and skull peeled just like Empress’s, and the peeled part fell off.

    White appeared first, then blood. Spyros began wailing, his cries swallowing Empress’s own.

    “And here comes the obsessed who still couldn’t let go even after he became president. But look at us now, even your presidential office couldn’t save you. The cops have no idea where this place is, and no one will find it till I’m done! That’s how much power I wield.” Rue muttered.

    It was Prof Kai next. The old man is worse than the three of them since he’s already so frail.

    “Rue….” He said with so much guilt, so much regrets.

    “Vaughn liked you so much, but you chose money over loyalty, and that’s fine, I understand you. Not all men are men, some are meant to be useless fossils like you, and that’s why you’d die uselessly.” Rue sighed, turning away from him.

    She faced the cameras.

    “You just witnessed the last speeches of everyone, shall we move to the last programme?” She smiled, pressing a button on the wall.

    The big sharp spikes on the ground moved faster, coming for them with murderous glints.

    “No!! No please!!! Please have mercy!!!”

    “Spare us!! Spare us!!”

    “You’ll get anything you want! Anything at all!!”

    “Don’t do this!!! Don’t!!!”

    “Please!!! I know I did bad but don’t be like this!!!”

    “Spare us!!!!”

    “Rue!!!!”

    The closer the spikes got, the louder their pleads got.

    They’re all pleading except Prof Kai who have obviously resigned to fate.

    “Rue!!!!!!!!!!!” Spyros screamed his last.

    And that was really the last sound in that building before the spikes finally got to them, entering their chairs and penetrating into their bodies, puncturing their bones and bursting their lungs, stabbing their hearts.

    Brutal wouldn’t be enough to describe the scene, cos one more minute, their hearts are already out on display on their shredded chests.

    The spikes grinded their flesh with their bones, and they became flat with the chair, their blood filtering out to the metals.

    Satisfied, Rue pressed another button on the wall.

    She left the building, and a countdown started on that wall.

    The moment is reached 00:00, the building blew up in ashes.

    [Next Day ~ D-Day, Military Base]

    As early as 7am, everyone’s ready.

    This is just like the other time in Boma. It might be a city war, but they’re using horses since they’d be too much for cars.

    They’re not wearing combat uniforms, they’re wearing new war uniforms—colour black, and the black helmets.

    Their preparations showed in the way they’re climbing the horses with readiness, each on their own throne.

    It’s a 70/30 situation. Their chances of life is shorter than the death chance, given the fact that they’re going there to face human robots.

    But maybe they’re not very scared of death anyways. Maybe they’re ready to guide the country with their lives.

    Yulia, Four and Kash were the last to climb their horses, and Yulia exchanged glances with Four, giving him a look that says… “Make sure you come back alive”

    And then they galloped out of the base, the hoofs of their horses so loud as it thudded on the road.

    The cantonment is dry, and the streets is even more dry cos there’s a curfew today.

    No one is supposed to come out, everyone stayed indoors.

    No school, no church, no mosque.

    Nothing. Every building is closed.

    As Four led the squad with the rest of the squad and the entire army, he closed his head out on any other thought, focusing on the task ahead.

    They travelled ten streets away from the cantonment before they arrived at UNN College street since Four has suspicions that Rue is gonna make it her next attack location.

    Everything started from the school anyways, and he’s really right cos when they arrived at the street, Usman’s people appeared from the opposite end.

    There are just 100+ human robots behind her, but the confidence in Rue’s eyes is insane as if she’s so sure of victory today.

    She’s on horses with her robots too as if they planned this with the base. She’s in the front with three more people…

    Axel…

    Theo…

    And Teal.

    Four’s hands slacked on his horse reins the moment he saw Teal who looks soulless beside Rue.

    And Rook swallowed emptiness when he saw Theo’s heartless figure.

    Yulia knew immediately she saw Axel that something has changed in him. He’s staring into space like a programmed dummy doll.

    The two opponents stopped at a time, leaving just a small space between them.

    “The four main criminals are already gone. It’s only fair if I send the fifth one to join them, and if y’all have decided to die with him, who am I to say no?” Rue smiled.

    “Your arrogance is tall, but you aren’t. I can’t believe I once signed an agreement document to get our kids married, Rue.” Yulia smirked.

    “And that same son made the call that killed my husband! We used to adore him, but he killed that adoration!” Rue spat.

    Four choose not to talk, his eyes are still on Teal, with focus.

    “Four was threatened by Katerina! He was burned with a poisoned iron to make him give in, but he didn’t even give in. It was all Axel, and even with that fact, he still stayed guilty for years, developed agoraphobia and stayed indoors, what else do you have to say!” Yulia defended.

    “Well too bad I don’t care. The call came from his phone, and I heard his voice! He’s joining the other criminals!” Rue insisted.

    “You disgust me,” Kash muttered on his horse.

    “Fine…” Four finally spoke, voice firm as he drew his spear.

    Rue’s eyes lifted when she saw the change.

    Four actually had all the weapons in the weaponry changed. Spears, guns, explosives, nuclear weapons, knives and everything.

    And the new supplies came from the artillery at Kalynda. Uncle Paul supplied everything himself.

    “We fight till shadows crawl. Fight till the last army standing. We fight till red covers the green, till sweat mixes with blood!” Four continued.

    “Attack!!!!!”

    And that was it.

    The start of the war.

    The beginning of the battle.

    The armies attacked the human robots first, and it was a bloody beginning as the robots can’t be killed since they’re half metals.

    The only targetable place in their bodies is the necks; it’s free of metal, but to even hit their necks is a problem cos they’re so damn fast.

    Within five minutes, the bodies of over twenty armies dropped on the field like animals.

    The war isn’t favoring them at all, and the use of nuclear weapons isn’t helping shit.

    Shannon and Brent and several other armies set the bomb cart, sending the sling to the human robots camp, but the robots replied with a more powerful weapon.

    Their counterattack was heavy, and the moment their explosion happened, it threw Shannon and Brent far away from the field.

    They both landed like dead bodies, and their heads rammed into stones, their blood spilled.

    Four jumped down from his horse, his adrenaline on a rush as he leaned on the horse, avoiding a stab.

    He threw his spear forward, hacking the head of that robot and killing him completely.

    That was the first robot to die.

    But Four was stabbed from behind immediately, and he paused for a second.

    They must be thinking his scar is still a weakness, but he surprised them and pulled himself out of the knife he was stabbed with.

    He climbed his horse back, and from there, he swung his spear twice, throwing it down at that robot.

    He ran, so the spear missed him, but it met another robot instead, hacking his head too.

    He went down the bloody field like the first one, but those were the only ones Four could kill, cos Rue came for him immediately.

    She jumped on the horse with him, making two people on the horse.

    She roundhouse kicked him on the chest, and Four tumbled, but he didn’t lose his stance.

    He swung himself down from the horse and landed on his feet. Rue followed him.

    As for Yulia, she’s warring with Axel, and she wasn’t wrong about him. His strength has grown more than it was, and he’s mercilessly stabbing her.

    Yulia has three stabs on her arm already, and tears in her eyes.

    “I should have stopped after Four stayed. I shouldn’t have bothered birthing you. You’re a mistake that shouldn’t have happened.” She muttered, and Axel stabbed her again.

    “Yulia!!!” Four yelled from his side, wanting to come for her, but Rue stabbed him, too.

    “Eros!!!” Yulia screamed back, standing to go for him.

    Axel kicked her back, and she fell face-first to the bloody field, but she was fast to turn on her back, raising her spear.

    So when Axel came for her again, the weapon hooked his neck.

    “I shouldn’t have birthed you, you monster without a left kidney!!!” She shrieked, pulling his head away from his neck with her spear.

    An explosive landed not far from her, and the ground cracked, the explosion throwing her to another part of the field.

    She thudded on a pile of stones, barely moving a finger as her eyes are closed, and her wounds are bleeding.

    Rook and Theo are warring it, too, and as tough as the war is, Theo is smiling, blocking every hit from Theo who’s crying.

    “Falling for you was my biggest mistake, ever. I swear.” Rook muttered, bending back to avoid a hit from him.

    “I’m glad you finally know.” Theo smiled again.

    “F+ckin fake!!!” Rook cried, stabbing Theo’s shoulder with his knife.

    Theo remained there, unmoved.

    Rook withdrew the knife, and he was about to stab that shoulder again when Theo grabbed his hand with the knife and directed it to his own neck, stabbing himself.

    Rook went cold, and his eyes widened.

    “I was never fake with you, Theo. Be it my feelings, or story. I was indeed raped, but it was done by bandits. My dad was indeed made to sleep with my sis, and my family were killed. I’d have been killed too, but Usman’s men saved me. I joined Usman’s lab cos she owns my life anyways, and I pledged to serve her with my whole life which I’ve been doing. I was never fake with you, Rookie.” Theo muttered, smiling despite the blood pouring from his stabbed neck.

    The knife is still in his neck, blood wetting the necklace, down to his chest. There are tears in his eyes right now, and he’s already on his knees.

    “Theo…dore…” Rook muttered, feeling much colder.

    “I love you too.” Theo smiled, and his eyes snapped shut at once, then he fell on his face.

    “Theodore!!!!!!!!”

    Kash, Morgan and April are standing back to back on another part of the field, and they’re not even dealing with fights.

    They’re dealing with the explosives, and the ground they’re standing on is already cracked.

    One wrong move, they all get swallowed.

    “At the count of 3” Kash said, and they both nodded.

    “1…2…3!”

    They jumped, but Morgan made sure to hold on to Kash, so they both fell in good places.

    April is on her own, and another explosive hit her spot the moment she landed.

    She was flung again, to another part of the field.

    “April!!” Kash and Morgan chorused cos her body was going to the pile of stones, and if she lands with that force, she’s gonna break her neck.

    Before April could reach the pile, she was taken by safe arms, and she landed on a different spot.

    Her breaths were heavy and still fearful as she opened her eyes to see who took her. She could smell hospital from the person.

    It’s Paine, and he’s smiling.

    “Paine?” She whispered, crying.

    On a very different side of the field, Teal stood alone, looking at the timer she’s holding.

    On the left hand, she’s holding a switch, and her eyes are going 360 over the field every now and then.

    Her eyes stopped on Four who’s currently fighting through his teeth with Rue, and she grew more impatient.

    She has to press this button at the right time, else she’s gonna f+ck things up.

    The human robots power comes from the lab lights, and that’s why the power is always on 24/7, so to disable their controls, she has to turn off the lights when the currents go low by a watt.

    She was shaking visibly, but her fingers aren’t shaking as she watched Four and Rue.

    Rue is madly strong, and Four is taking her well, but Teal knows it won’t last cos Rue’s stamina is creepy.

    Four fell back on the horse, and Rue took the spear.

    She was already bringing it down to Four’s chest for a stab when Teal finally detected a slim low current.

    She pressed the switch with her, automatically turning off the lab lights from here.

    Every single robot on the field fell on their faces instantly, and the spear fell from Rue.

    The explosives stopped coming, and there was calm for a minute before Rue detected what was going on.

    Every standing member of the army turned to face Teal, and Four sat up on the horse too, his body dripping with blood.

    “Teal…” He whispered.

    “You betrayed me?” Rue jumped down from the horse.

    “I stayed with you in your disgusting lab for days only to find out your weakness, not because I loved it there. And you know you’re not the only one with this brainy head, I have one too, so I visited your power house when I noticed there was excessive lightning in the building, and I was right, cos I saw the fuse. You power your robots with light energy. I might not have electronic knowledge, but my husband studied electric engineering in school, so I might have read some of his journals. I connected the lab energy to this switch. It’s your fault for trusting me.” Teal explained, hate overtaking her big red eyes.

    “I am your mother!!!!” Rue howled, coming for her.

    “No you’re not! And you only just proved that! Dad might have pretended to be blind, but he would never harm anyone to revenge. You took the lives of thousands of people in this city already, I hate you!!!! More than anything existing!! They made you evil, but you overdid it, and it’s unacceptable.” Teal muttered.

    Rue bursted into laughter, so loud and unsettling. Psychotic.

    But it was very short.

    She drew a gun from under her shirt, and Teal immediately figured out who it’s for.

    She did a mad run to Four as Rue stretched the gun at him, but the armies were fast too.

    Rue shot the gun, and the armies shot at the same time.

    Their bullets hit Rue’s body at the same time, destroying her completely.

    But at the same time, Rue’s bullet flew to Four’s direction.

    However, Teal stood in the way, and the bullet hit her instead..on the back.

    She was already holding her pregnancy test strip when she fell on Four, and his red, wide eyes brought out tears for the first time since he was born.

    The test strip fell from Teal, and her mouth opened…

    “I’m…I’m yours. And I ….”

    “I love you, so f+ckin much.” Four cut her off, confessing first as his tears entered his mouth, his arms tightening around her blood-soaked body.

    Her smile was small but beautiful after she heard that, and then all colour drained from her face.

    Her lids closed, her lips closed, too. Her neck went limp, her blood soaked his legs, and her body turned dead cold. 

    Wind carried the pregnancy test strip far away.

    Four’s mouth opened, and his scream was sickeningly insane…

    “TEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TEAL!!!!!!!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

    TBC.

    Next Episode 

    Previous Episode 

  • The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 49&50

    The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 49&50

     

    THE MAFIA’S DEADLY DEVOTION

    The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 49&50

     (..Stuck with the mafia boss..)

    By; Cherry Love F.

    The same scent that could get all her senses snapping and jolting with electric sparks. That one peppermint scent she’d last inhaled four months ago. Then only one person came to her mind.

    Angelo!.

    Emily quickly began to move, looking for a glimpse of him but he seemed to have disappeared into thin air. After another thirty minutes of searching, Emily sighed disappointedly and decided to go home but the strange thing was that she could feel eyes on herself like she was being watched, yet anytime she turned to look, she wouldn’t see anyone.

    Emily reached home at past ten, only to meet her whole family pacing to and fro. Laura’s eyes lit up the moment she saw Emily and she ran towards her.

    “Did something happen?”. Emily asked first when Ava dived into her arms.

    “Where were you?, We had called Terra and she said you left two hours ago, what if something happened to you?”. Brad fumed, holding his head in his hands.

    “I….

    “Dear, do you know how worried we were?, Even your phone was switched off”. Laura uttered.

    “I was scared that monster would come and take you away”. Ava cried, making Emily frown slightly.

    “He’s not a monster”. She muttered but Laura heard her.

    “How many people will you defend that murderer?”. Laura snapped. “You’re too naive for your own good”.

    Emily’s heart dropped. Feeling a pang of guilt and pent up frustration, she looked down, lowering her voice.

    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you worried. My phone’s battery died….and I decided to walk around a bit before coming back”. She mumbled.

    Brad’s expression softened and he walked over to Emily, placing a hand on her shoulder.

    “Little em, we were only worried. You know what happened in the past and we shouldn’t be taking unnecessary risks”. He said and Laura nodded in agreement. 

    “I’m very tired, i want to sleep”. Emily said.

    “Won’t you have dinner?”. Ava asked.

    “I’ve eaten already”. Emily replied and bid them goodnight before going back to her room.

    Ava watched her as she left, then turned to brad and laura, settling between them. 

    “Something is wrong with mil”. She muttered.

    “Give her time”. Brad urged patting her forehead.

    “Yeah……, It’s 5 months already”. Laura mumbled, then looked up, regaining her cheerfulness. “Don’t you worry, baby. I know just what she needs”. Laura smiled.

    “Chocolates?”. Ava raised her brow.

    “Don’t worry about it dear, just leave it all to me and get some rest, I’ll be back”. Laura picked up her phone and went inside her room. Ava looked at Brad but he just shrugged.

    *

    The next day, the whole mansion was next to empty, only Zade and the rest of the maids were there, meaning he and bluey had the whole time for themselves as they were in his room. Bluey’s head on Zade’s chest while his fingers were in her hair.

    “Why’s everywhere empty though?, Where did they all go?”. Bluey asked.

    “Some sorta mission or something”. He shrugged.

    “Mission?, Another one?”. Bluey raised her brow.

    “Yeah. All of them apart from Alyssa though, she’s busy sulking, probably with Katherine”. 

    “You didn’t go with them?”. 

    “You know i can’t do that. I’m not part of their clan so it doesn’t concern me”. Zade mumbled.

    “But….

    “Shhh, no more questions. Let’s use our time together for something…… naughty”. He smirked pulling bluey up and interchanging their positions.

    * An abandoned warehouse*

    Bullets flew in opposite directions, both mafia clans equally skilled. The opposing clan, the Russo brothers and their clan members fired with vigor but the Italian mafia clan was equally unrelenting.

    “Where the hell is Angelo?”. Bruno gritted, after dodging a bullet.

    “He should have been here an hour ago”. Kate said.

    Carlos and elena stayed silent, shooting and swapping positions drastically.

    “I’m getting tired of this run and chase game”. The eldest russo brother, Levi sneered.

    “They’re boring me with their antics”. The second eldest, Patrick agreed.

    They nodded at their youngest brother and changed their guns to revolvers and began firing madly. Shocking the Italian mafia crew, carlos was the first to recover and he too, began to fire. 

    “Perfect f+cking timing”. Kate breathed out and all heads turned when Angelo finally came in.

    “He’s their boss!?”. Simone, the last Russo brother asked.

    “Sweet!”. Patrick grinned maniacally and fired a bullet toward Angelo who smartly dodged it.

    “Neh. A f+cking child”. Levi rolled his eyes, looking at Angelo. He was actually 35.

    Angelo’s expression remained neutral as he sized the three up. 

    “You’re the famous CEO, aren’t ya?”. Levi asked, a smirk forming on his face.

    “Pleasure’s all yours”. Angelo rolled his eyes, pulling his shirt sleeves up.

    “The number 1 mafia king”. Simone laughed.

    “Wish i knew as half of you as you know me”. Angelo uttered. Elena watched with surprise written all over her face.

    “Aren’t we supposed to take them out?”. She turned to Kate and Bruno. Carlos just shrugged.

    “Oh boy, you wouldn’t wanna know us. We’re your worst nightmare”. Levi grinned.

    “Could be the other way round”. Angelo countered.

    “Why don’t we just join clans then?”. Patrick suggested.

    “Shut up”. Levi glared.

    “Let’s see what he can do”. Levi said and immediately and without warning fired at Angelo. Carlos drew out his gun again but Bruno stopped him.

    “What the hell?”. He snapped at Bruno.

    “Leave them”. Bruno said calmly and Carlos looked at Angelo, he didn’t hesitate to return the shot but Levi was equally trained so he dodged, they continued in that cycle until Angelo caught him unaware and shot Levi’s arm, at the same time, pinning him to the ground with his left leg on Levi’s chest, holding him down. His brothers were quick to come to his rescue but he stopped them.

    “Impressive”. Levi commended and Angelo shrugged and stepped back, offering his hand. Levi took it and stood up.

    “Truce?”. He asked and Angelo glanced at Carlos who nodded, understanding what he wanted.

    “Why did you attack our shipments?”. Carlos demanded and Levi shrugged.

    “Just looking to steer up trouble”. Simone grinned toothily.

    “You’ll have to pay for the damage”. He bargained.

    “Whatever”. Patrick shrugged.

    “Then we call it truce”. Carlos finalized and they shook hands.

    “I like him. He’s cool”. Levi gestured to Angelo, who was talking to Kate.

    “Just pray you remain on his cool side though, any other and you’ll be wishing for death itself”. Carlos said seriously.

    “Temperamental?”. 

    “Something like that”. 

    “Pleasure to make acquaintance”. Levi spoke up and Angelo turned with a nod.

    “That’s so cool, gelo”. Elena piped up, hugging Angelo but he pulled back instantly.

    “There’s no need for that”. He said and walked out after a glance at the Russo brothers and their clan members. Elena bit her lips hardly and followed.

    * AT NIGHT_8PM

    Emily had another late night shift but it wasn’t as late as yesterday. She sighed when she felt the presence again and yet saw nothing. She couldn’t help the uneasiness she felt though and turned back. Still nothing.

    “Is that a lady?”. Someone asked from a distance and Emily gulped, speeding up her tracks.

    “Yea, sweet man. We gonna have fun tonight, i was getting bored here”. Another man said.

    “I get hard just thinking about it”. 

    Another man said and Emily could hear their footsteps approaching.

    “Hey beauty”. The man that spoke first called and Emily walked even faster.

    “Didn’t you hear us?”. One man yanked her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

    “Let me go please”. Emily pleaded. 

    “Oh darling, we haven’t even done anything yet”. The third man chuckled and grabbed her other hand. Emily was surrounded now and a past memory popped in her mind. Except that, then, Angelo had saved her but who would save her now. 

    They were four men in total, while two were holding her wrists, one was already touching her face and the other one was just watching them with a smile. Emily screamed loudly and the man watching quickly jumped into action.

    “Shit!, Shut the hell up”. He yelled, slapping her hardly. Emily winced, her lip bleeding from the impact. 

    “Would really hate to disfigure such a pretty face”. The man that was holding her face previously was behind her now. “But that’s only if you stay silent…..

    Then the man suddenly fell silent and seconds later, Emily felt his body weight on her. She along with the other three men froze in horror when the man dropped dead to the ground.

    The man who had slapped her earlier seemed to be their boss so he stepped forward.

    “W-who’s there?”. He asked, then one of the men holding Emily’s wrist dropped dead on the floor.

    The remaining two men looked at themselves skeptically.

    “We’ve made a mistake seeing her”. The man holding her other wrist shook.

    “Who the hell is she?”. The boss thundered.

    “Someone you should have never crossed paths with”. The shooter answered.

    Emily’s eyes widened. She knew that voice.

    “We’re so so so sorry ma’am, please”. The man said and his boss glared at him. 

    “Kneel”. The voice ordered and the man wasted no time to obey. He obliged and knelt in front of Emily who stepped back instinctively.

    “What are you doing, spider?”. The boss raged but spider ignored him. Still staring at Emily, he tried to talk again but a bullet rammed into his skull and he let out a loud agonizing scream before dropping dead. The boss, Mojo gulped.

    “Tell this to your friends who were wondering the same thing. You don’t mess with what’s mine”. The voice said, then two bullets were fired into Mojo’s head and chest.

    Emily began to feel sick at the sight of the blood. She staggered and a hand slid around her waist protectively, catching her before she fell.

    “Angelo?”. Emily mumbled faintly and Angelo looked at her, straight in the eye. He was monitoring her movements to make sure she was safe as usual but then Alyssa’s call came and he got distracted.

    “Why the hell do you get back from work so late?”. He thundered angrily.

    “It’s really you?”. Emily whispered.

    “I’m f+cking talking…

    Emily straightened up and hugged Angelo fully, her head in his chest.

    “Don’t leave me again. It hurts so much”. She mumbled.

    And Angelo did what he’d never done before. He hugged her back.

    “I never really left, Cucciola”.

    .

    .

    .

    Next Episode 

    Previous Episode 

  • The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 47&48

    The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 47&48

      

    THE MAFIA’S DEADLY DEVOTION

    The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 47&48

     (..Stuck with the mafia boss..)

    By; Cherry Love F.

    It’s been five months already and everything has gone back to normal. Activities in the clan had gone back to normal.

    Five months ago that Angelo had gone to his mother’s graveside and just sat there for three hours and after he left, he came back to his normal self. No Emily. No emotions. Just nothing. Five months and he’d already taken the business world by a storm, landing mega deals like nobody’s damn business.

    The mafia business was equally the same and they’d formed new alliances with other countries. The spy wasn’t found though, so it just remained a baseless assumption that there was ever a spy and everyone had continued with their lives.

    Angelo walked into the office building, his hands in his pocket as he walked without a care. Everyone paused and bowed when he crossed them, till he got to his office. Carlos was already waiting for him there.

    “You’re early”. He smiled and Angelo shrugged.

    “Why’d you call?”. He asked instead, Carlos just sighed before bringing out a set of printed documents and handing them to Angelo. 

    “Mr. A wants an alliance with you. He’s top 3 in the U. S, his daughter is a model and…

    “Reject”. Angelo cut him off and Carlos face palmed.

    “Won’t you even think about dating someone?, I mean, anyone at all. You’ve got ladies waiting for you to just say the word and they’ll readily drop to their feet”. 

    Angelo chuckled darkly, making to respond but was cut off by a knock on the door. His personal assistant, Rachel came in. The old one got fired after she tried to drug Angelo. Spoiler: she wasn’t only fired but let your imagination run wild.

    “Sir. There’s a call for you”. Rachel said. ,”His name is Josh and he wants to speak to you urgently”. 

    “You can go”. Carlos dismissed Rachel and she subtly glared at him before leaving.

    Angelo nodded and brought out his phone, deciding to call josh himself. Josh picked up on the first ring. He said whatever he said, then Angelo hung up, taking a gun from his drawer.

    “What’s wrong?”. Carlos piped up, eyeing the gun.

    “The shipments were hijacked on the way”. With that, he left.

    ADAMS HOUSE

    Emily was already at work, she worked in a roadside restaurant, she was even more quiet now. All these months she hadn’t seen Angelo even when she kept hoping he’d just show up at least once. But he didn’t.

    “Hey Emily”. Violet, her co-worker called her and she turned, adjusting her apron and dropping the tray.

    “Hi”.

    “You won’t believe this. This man is so hot, i want him”. Violet gushed, staring at her phone dreamily. “He’s like the typical romance novel type”. 

    Emily just shrugged.

    “Come look”. Violet urged.

    “Waitress!!!!”. Someone called from outside and Violet groaned.

    “I’ll answer”. Emily mumbled and picked up her tray again.

    “What’s up with her?”. Violet muttered to herself but then she saw another picture of the ‘Hottest man in Italy’ and began smiling again. 

    “Gosh, Angelo is so damn hot”. 

    Angelo’s mansion*.

    Bluey put her dress back on and Zade was sure to not take his eyes off her.

    “Do you think he’ll ever let her come back here?”. Bluey asked when she was done, Zade shrugged before looking away.

    “It’s for her safety, baby and honestly i didn’t even expect anything from Angelo, he just locks everyone out of his life”. He frowned.

    “I miss her so much”. Bluey mumbled and he pulled her into a hug.

    “It’s okay. Maybe if you were on good terms before she left, it would have been better”. He said.

    “Hm. I have work to do, I’ll see you later”. 

    Mafia headquarters*

    Everyone was busy training. They were performing martial arts, prior to the queen mother’s instructions. Elena and Alyssa were sparring together, Katherine with kate and blade with hades.

    “How’s Angelo?…. he’s not been talking to me or the queen mother for months now”. Elena spoke up.

    “Don’t worry about it, he cares for you, okay?. Don’t stress yourself”. Alyssa said, dodging a kick from Elena.

    “He really cared about Emily….

    “Elena!, It’s all in the past, okay?”. Alyssa snapped and Elena nodded.

    “I don’t get why we have to practice everyday though, we don’t have any serious enemies”. Kate said from the side.

    “I know right?”. Elena agreed.

    “I think she’s just being paranoid”. Alyssa added.

    “Whatever”. Katherine rolled her eyes and they looked at her quietly.

    Three months ago, the Queen mother caught she and Hades making out in one of the rooms and didn’t hesitate to send Hades away for two months to make sure they were separated. Kate was lucky on her side, being more careful not to be seen with blade.

    “Enough with the chatter!”. The queen mother thundered and they immediately split.

    “Gawd, i really hate her so much sometimes”. Katherine mumbled, pairing up with Alyssa now.

    After an hour, they were through with training and were relaxing in the sauna with bottles of tequila surrounding them. Bruno, one of the recent recruits came over.

    “The queen mother wants to see you….all of you”. He said and turned around, leaving just as soon as she came.

    “What does she want again?, I swear I’m dying with pains”. Blade complained bitterly, earning a smack from Hades.

    “You’re just lazy”.

    “Dude, we trained for four hours, what the hell?”. Alyssa scoffed.

    “Get used to it”. Katherine chuckled and came out of the tub, her towel in hand. “Oh and you guys should be there in 5 minutes”. She walked out.

    “Okay….now i think I speak for Carlos and all of us when i ask this…..who the hell made her boss?”. Blade scoffed loudly.

    “You speak for yourself”

    “Careful with your words. She’s my sister”. Both Hades and Elena defended.

    “You guys would make such a couple, like she’ll really tame you”. Alyssa said.

    “Hey, I’m here”. Kate frowned.

    “Ew, no!, She’s not my type”. Blade cringed.

    “What’s that supposed to mean?”. Hades asked darkly, moving forward.

    “Hey man chill…. I meant that…. she scares me and…. I’m more into shy and cute girls, yunno?”. Blade chuckled nervously.

    They all burst out laughing and Kate glared at him.

    “Someone’s gonna learn in bed tonight”.

    Five minutes later*

    They arrived at Queen mother’s office and stood a few meters away from her, side by side with each other though. Carlos arrived a few minutes earlier and he sent Alyssa a subtle wink before standing beside Hades.

    The queen mother looked at them thoroughly, then glanced at her watch. She tapped her fingers on the table, annoyed. And just then, Angelo came in, he was wiping his bloody hands with a handkerchief.

    “What took you so long?, I called you an hour ago”. She asked calmly, trying to calm her nerves.

    “I had work to do”. Angelo replied, dumping the stained handkerchief in a trash can, then moving to the inner bathroom. He washed himself and cleaned the blood stain on his forehead before coming out again.

    Then he sat on the chair in front of the Queen mother.

    “I called you here for one reason”. She looked at them one after the other before talking again. “A fast rising Mafia clan has been trying to wage war against us as some of you may know, they’ve been attacking our men who are delivering stocks and leaving with it”. She paused.

    Katherine cut in. “How come we’re only knowing now?”. 

    “No one has been able to come back to report that”. Queen mother said.

    “How….

    “Let me finish”. She cut Elena off. “So we’re gonna send the best of you, I’ve already chosen….. Angelo, Elena, Carlos, Bruno, Kate and Alyssa”.

    “No”. Angelo shook his head.

    “Why are we not included?”. Katherine asked.

    “Isn’t Bruno just a new recruit?”. Hades scoffed.

    “First Katherine, you five went on the last mission and you failed”. Queen mother started.

    “That wasn’t our fault”. Katherine cut in again.

    “Hades. This is Bruno’s first official assignment and I’m not letting any of you influence him”. Queen mother continued.

    “Queen mother, wasn’t Alyssa part of our last mission?”. Elena asked.

    “She’s going because she and Angelo make a great team. Their team work is amazing and….

    “She’s going nowhere”. Angelo interrupted her.

    “Excuse me?”.

    “Alyssa is going nowhere”. He repeated and Carlos nodded from the side.

    “What reason do you have?”. Queen mother asked and Angelo faced her squarely.

    “I said that Alyssa’s not going on this mission, or any other, to be precise”. Angelo said.

    “Angelo, I wanna go”. Alyssa retorted.

    “I make the decisions here, Angelo and I’m saying that Alyssa will go”. Queen mother snapped. She and Angelo were now locked in a stare down, none willing to back off.

    “Fine, she can go”. Angelo gave up and she smiled.

    “That’s settled, you, Elena, Carlos, Kate, Bruno and Alyssa will go for the mission”. 

    “No we won’t”. Angelo said again and all eyes turned to him in confusion.

    “You just said….

    “That Alyssa will go?, Yeah, but i didn’t finish. If Alyssa goes, then damn well, count me out of whatever mission or strategy you’ve mapped out”. He uttered and their eyes widened.

    “That’s not possible”. Elena piped up.

    “You make the choice”. Angelo shrugged and made to stand.

    “Fine. Alyssa can stay if you want”. Queen mother mumbled and Carlos breathed out in relief.

    Angelo didn’t comment and started walking out of the office.

    “Be here tomorrow”.  She said and he didn’t reply but she knew he heard her.

    “This boy”. She thought to herself.

    “You’re excused”. She said to the rest.

    TIME SKIP*

    It was 9pm and Emily was walking back home alone. She normally didn’t come back from work this late but the restaurant had been so busy. She pulled off her headband from her hair and continued walking, then a dog started barking really loudly, she tried to ignore it but she couldn’t because it was getting increasingly louder.

    Skeptically, she started walking back to where the dog was, but the dog was quiet now and was running back to it’s habitat. Emily shook her head and was about to move again but she suddenly found something on the floor a few metres away.

    Now normally, she wouldn’t care about the handkerchief but she hadn’t seen it there when she crossed before. Nervously she picked it up and the scent caught her nose. The same one she could recognize anywhere, anytime. 

    The same scent that could get all her senses snapping and jolting with electric sparks. That one peppermint scent she’d last inhaled four months ago. Then only one person came to her mind.

    Angelo!.

    .

    Next Episode 

    Previous Episode 

  • Between 2 Hearts – Episode 30

    Between 2 Hearts – Episode 30

     

      BETWEEN 2 HEARTS

    Between 2 Hearts – Episode 30

    Tag: Royalty and Love.

    Warning: Stay clear from this book


    ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
           Alex, dressed in a tailored suit, returned to the company, and the staff erupted into a warm welcome. The manager, along with the other employees, beamed with excitement, their faces lighting up at the sight of him.
    The female staff members couldn’t help but blush, their cheeks flushing with admiration as they offered him flowers and other gifts. However, Alex’s personal guard and his PA stepped in, graciously accepting the gifts on his behalf.
    Alex thanked them warmly, his smile genuine and appreciative. As he made his way to his office, the atmosphere remained electric.
    Meanwhile, Naomi remained engrossed in her work, oblivious to the commotion outside.
    As Alex entered his office, he was surrounded by the familiar comforts of his workspace. The room was sleek and modern, with a large wooden desk at its center, adorned with neatly arranged papers and a few select decorative items.
    The walls were adorned with framed certificates and awards, a testament to his accomplishments. A floor-to-ceiling window behind his desk offered a stunning view of the city skyline.
    Alex’s personal guard and PA followed him into the office, the manager trailing closely behind. The room was filled with the soft hum of conversation as they exchanged pleasantries and discussed the day’s schedule.
    Alex’s eyes scanned the room, taking in the familiar surroundings before settling on his PA, who was waiting to brief him on the day’s agenda. With a nod, he signaled her to begin, and she launched into a detailed rundown of the day’s schedule.
     
       Naomi was deeply engrossed in her work when the manager knocked and entered her office.
     “Naomi,” he called out, and she quickly stood up.
    “Sir,” she replied, her voice respectful.
    “You are here,” he said, “I thought you were among the people who came to welcome the boss.”
     “The boss?” she repeated confusedly.
    “Yes, he just arrived a while ago,” the manager explained.
    “Oh, I’m sorry, sir,” she said. “I didn’t know. I was working on the files you gave me, but I’m done now.”
     “It’s okay. I’ve already spoken to him about the files. You should go and submit them to him. The file needs his signature so we can complete the ongoing projects.”
    “Okay, sir, I’ll do that right away.”
    The manager nodded and left the office. Moments later, Olivia entered, carrying a stack of files.
     “Ma, here are the files,” she said, placing them on the table.
    “Thank you, Olivia,” Naomi said. “Do you know the CEO is back?”
    “No, ma’am,” she replied. “I’m just hearing it from you.”
    “Yeah, he’s back now.” She began arranging the files. “Do you have any idea where his office is?” She asked.
    “Yes,” she replied. “The sixth floor. It’s the only office available there, and his secretary will be there to show you.”
     “Thank you. Let me go now.”
    With the files in hand, Naomi left her office and headed to the sixth floor using the elevator. As she stepped out of the elevator, she was greeted by a secretary seated comfortably at her desk, working on her laptop. The secretary looked up, and Naomi took two steps forward, ready to introduce herself.
      “Good day,” Naomi said politely. “I’m here to see the boss. I heard he’s back, and these are the files the manager asked me to present to him.”
    “Okay, hold on a sec.” She dialed a number on her telecom and spoke for a while before hanging up. “He said you can come in,” she said.
    “Okay, which direction, please?” 
    “The office facing you is his office,” 
    “Okay, thank you,”
     “You’re welcome.”The secretary smiled.
    Naomi moved forward to the office doorstep and knocked, waiting for a voice to usher her in. When none came, she entered, taking in the surroundings of the office. She was amazed by the lavish decor, with expensive interior design.
    However, the CEO wasn’t seated at his desk. She wondered where he was. She moved closer to the desk and carefully placed the files on the table, making sure not to break anything.
    As she stepped back, she noticed a nameplate on a classic glass design: Alex Luke. The name sounded familiar, and she couldn’t quite place it. Her eyes scanned the desk, and she saw a photo of Alex in a small frame. She gasped in shock, her eyes fixed on the photo.
     “Alex,” she whispered.
    “Yes,” Alex replied from behind her.
    Naomi froze, her heart racing. She turned to face him, her eyes locking onto his. She missed a step and almost lost her balance, causing the frame to fall from her hands and shatter on the floor.
    Alex rushed to her side, quickly pulling her into his arms to prevent her from falling onto the broken glass.
       Their eyes interlocked as she rested her hands on his shoulders, while Alex held her waist firmly. Naomi’s eyes were a mixture of surprise and confusion.
     “Are you okay?” Alex asked firmly.
    She quickly snapped back to reality, pushing away from him nervously. “Um, sorry, I didn’t mean…” she sputtered.
    She tried to pick up the broken frame from the floor, but a piece of glass pierced her finger, causing her to let out a small cry of pain. Alex rushed to stop her and examined her middle finger, which was now bleeding slightly.
      “Don’t do that,” he said, leading her away from the broken glass and making her sit on the sofa.
    “I am…,” she began, but Alex interrupted her.
    “Don’t say anything, just sit there,” he said firmly.
     She gulped nervously as he moved to his desk and picked up his telecom. He phoned his secretary,2 instructing her to send a cleaner to his office.
    Naomi remained quiet, watching as he moved to his cupboard and retrieved a first aid kit. He came back to her and sat next to her, gently taking her hand to treat the wound.
    “I…,”  she tried to speak again, but Alex silenced her.
    “Not a word,” he said, his voice soft but firm.
    After treating the wound, he placed a small bandage on it. 
     “Don’t take it off until it’s fully healed, do you understand?” he asked, his eyes locked on hers.
    Naomi nodded, still feeling a bit shaken.
    Just then, a knock came at the door, and Alex called out,
      “Come in.” An attendant entered with cleaning supplies, bowed to Alex, and began cleaning up the broken glass.
    When the attendant finished, Alex instructed her to leave the frame, and she bowed and left.
     She stood up, avoiding eye contact with Alex. “Um, I’m sorry for the mess,” she began. “I actually came to submit the files the manager asked me to work on…”
    But Alex interrupted her. “I know,” he said, moving to his chair.
    As he began signing the files one by one, Naomi stared at him in confusion.
     “Aren’t you going to check for errors?” she asked.
    Alex looked up at her, a hint of a smile on his face.
     “I don’t think there are any errors,” he said. “I trust you.” Naomi watched as he finished signing the files and pushed them closer to her. “It’s done,” he said. “You can give them to the manager.”
    “Okay, sir,” she  replied, taking the files.
    As she turned to leave, Alex called out to her. “Naomi.”
    She slowly turned back to him. “Yes, sir?”
    “Um, I just wanted to say, welcome on board,” 
     “Thank you, sir.” She forced a smile.
    With that, she rushed out of the office, closing the door behind her. As soon as she was alone, she leaned against the door, taking a deep breath and placing her hand on her chest.
    After a moment, she composed herself and walked away, saying goodbye to the secretary before heading to the elevator.
       Naomi entered her office and immediately dialed Mia’s number. The phone rang for a while before Mia picked up.
    “Hey,” Mia said, answering the phone.
    “Mia, there’s fire on the mountain,” Naomi said, her voice urgent.
     “What, what happened? Are you in trouble?” She asked curiously.
    “No, but you won’t believe what happened.”
    “Geez, Naomi, I almost collapsed when you said there’s fire on the mountain. So, what happened?”
    Naomi took a deep breath before blurting out the news. “Guess who the CEO of my company is.”
    “Who?”
    “It’s Alex.” She said anxiously.
    Mia gasped audibly on the other end of the line. “Alex? Like… His Royal Highness?”
     “Exactly! His father owns this company, and he’s now the CEO.”
    “Oh boy, what do we do now? But how did you know he’s the CEO?” Naomi explained everything to Mia, from seeing Alex’s name on the desk to the shocking revelation. “Geez!”
    “I don’t know what to do. What if his family finds out I work here? You know how they hate me. I don’t want to quit this job, I just got it, and I’m getting used to it already. What do I do, Mia?” She said sadly.
     “Calm down, don’t think too much about this. We’ll discuss this when we meet later. Just try to relax and avoid seeing him.”
     “How can I do that? He’s the boss!” She sighed in frustration.
     “I know, just calm down, and we’ll find a way out.”
     “Okay,” she replied before hanging up the phone.
      TBC
  • Twisted Empire – Episode 99&100

    Twisted Empire – Episode 99&100

     

    TWISTED EMPIRE

    Twisted Empire – Episode 99&100

    (Her Blade, His Neck )

    ________________________

    All rights reserved.

    No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

    Copyright © 2025 

    by Naomi Cindy B.

    __________________________

    [UNN College]

    Four’s boots were dragging on the ground, and his palms were dragging on the walls for support.

    He was sweating, and it’s even showing through his uniform—on his chest, and at the back of his neck.

    His eyes aren’t red, they’re something close to yellow as if he’s terribly sick with fever. His chest seems inflated, and it’s rising constantly without falling. He looks like he has been murdered, like this is his spirit roaming the earth.

    He’s already outside the professor’s office, and Paul is beside him as they went down the hall of students.

    A lot of students are even greeting him respectfully, but he’s not hearing a thing. His ears are hot, too. Like they got flushed with a boiling liquid.

    He’s not even here anymore, literally.

    “Rue?… Rue is Usman?” Uncle Paul muttered, fists folding and unfolding for more times than he could count.

    “Unbelievable..” 

    He’s not even aware of Four’s perplexity beside him cos he’s dealing with the shock too.

    When they arrived outside the gate, he hopped in the van, expecting Four to join him, but Four just stood there.

    “Four?” He called out.

    “Leave. I’ll find my way back to the base.” Four replied, his voice below a whisper. He’s not even looking up.

    “Are you…ok?” Paul asked with obvious concern.

    “Go find Dave at the annex.” Four rasped, voice still low, eyes still down.

    “Fine then, I’ll call you. And I’ll contact Teal on my way. Since things have come to this, I’ll inform her of everything, including the fact that Rue isn’t her real mother.” Paul said, expecting Four to be shocked.

    But shock didn’t happen.

    Four remained the way he is.

    “You knew? That Rue isn’t her real mother?” Paul asked surprisingly, and Four looked up.

    The sick yellowness is gone from his eyes, replaced with faint red.

    “I told you to go join Dave in the annex!” He snapped.

    Paul brought the van engines to life and drove off.

    Four continued standing there, legs straight in his trousers against the tar and arms weak at either side of him.

    Students are walking past him to and from inside the school, but he’s only feeling their breeze, he can’t see them—or he choose not to.

    His throat turned sour.

    No, bitter.

    Unbearably bitter.

                              • Age 12 •

    It’s Four’s twelfth birthday, and as expected, Yulia made it grandiose. A gathering of riches that not only has kids from Four’s school, but also big personalities worldwide.

    From the army, from the country estates, from the overseas and so on.

    It’s an Houseparty, but it’s got everything belonging to a open air party. It’s the best of Four’s birthdays.

    But Four didn’t enjoy it—not with the huge painful scar on his back.

    He spent the whole day flashing fake smiles at the guests, hiding his pains and masking his discomfort.

    “Birthday boy is so handsome, my daughter would love him.” One of the guests commented.

    “Oh…he has a girlfriend. He’s in a platonic relationship, sorry.” Yulia replied, smiling at Four who’s sitting on a large regal chair in the middle of the room. 

    Four returned her smile, and she luckily didn’t notice his pain.

    He hardened his bones, gritting his teeth when the pains from his back came again.

    “Big bro!” Axel appeared with wide eyes, “Your neck! There’s a black vein!” 

    Four spranged up, and Axel gasped again, “Your shirt is stained at the back! I think you’re bleeding!”

    Four sneaked back inside, avoiding the notice of all other guests till he arrived at his room.

    He peeled off his shirt and went to the full mirror. Truly, there’s a black vein on his neck like a serpent, and his scar is bleeding fresh blood.

    The pains seemed to multiply immediately, and he punched the mirror, wanting to cry…but he couldn’t do it. The tears wouldn’t come.

    He crawled back to the bedroom to get his phone and reread the message from the blackmailer who poisoned him.

    • Call the Ambrose couple, tell them to come to your birthday after-party. I’m giving you the last chance to save yourself and your family. I’m very sure the scar is bleeding right now, and your neck has the dark vein. That’s only the start, cos if you fail to comply, your brother is next, then your dear mother and your father! I won’t stop till your family goes down the death pit!

    As he read, he gulped in repeat, trembling with fear.

    Axel rushed inside. He’s the only one who knows about the scar since he got branded at the museum washroom.

    “You’re… you’re actually… bleeding so much! I’ll tell mum!” Axel said and went for the door.

    “Come back here Axel!!” Four yelled, and Axel turned. He’s crying already.

    “But you’re bleeding and you’re in pains, and that vein on your neck is scary! I don’t want you to die! You’re being threatened!”

    “You will not tell mum. Mum is stubborn, and she might ruin things. She’s adamant about me and you know it! I have to be gentle with this person if I really wanna live.” Four groaned, sweating to the floor.

    “Stop talking as if you aren’t stubborn too! I dunno why you inherited that thing from mum. You’re the only brother I have, and you know how much I brag about you to my classmates, so you can’t die!” Axel snarled, coming back to kneel beside him.

    “The blackmailer told you to call the Ambrose couple to come here, right? Then do it!”

    “Are you a fool? You think calling them to come here is to jolly? This blackmailer has other plans and the couple could get hurt! You know how much I like Vaughn especially!” 

    “But you’re dying! Would you rather die? Mum suffered three lost children before you stayed so think twice! You’re not dying, I will not allow you to die!” Axel yelled, wiping his tears.

    Four fisted his palms, hitting them on the ground repeatedly as the pains slashed through him again. 

    One would think he’s epileptic with the way he’s wriggling on the ground. His blood stained everywhere, and his neck vein elongated.

    “Uhhhhhh!!!!!!” He groaned, slamming his fists on the floor again. His knuckles peeled, and his eyes began rotating.

    Axel quickly shut the door to stop the groan from reaching outside.

    “Call the Ambrose couple, now!” He shouted desperately, kicking Four’s phone to him.

    Four took the phone, his eyes seeing red as he searched for Rue’s line in his contacts…

    •Next Morning•

    Four woke up to find himself in bed. Blood gone. Tears gone. Sweat dried.

    He sat up startled, and he was even more surprised to see he’s already wearing his shirt back.

    Axel came in carrying a tray, containing a cup of tea.

    He dropped the tray on the bed, then he sat in front of Four.

    “I know you love gin, so I stole some from the cellar and mixed the tea with it. You should drink when it’s still hot.” He said, offering him the cup of tea.

    Four looked on, not understanding a thing. When did he fall asleep?

    He was about to query further about that when Pedro came in, holding a small envelope.

    “Hera is the only one who sends you silly love letters through posting. The post office brought this, probably from her.” He said.

    Four snatched the packet from him, tearing it open.

    He brought out the small note that’s inside and read…

    • Job done. You did well. Take the antidote immediately.

    He looked into the base of the package and saw a white single pill. Must be the antidote.

    “The… Ambrose couple…did they come here last night?” He asked without breaths in his lungs.

    “Rue and Vaughn? Nope. You made them draw more than twenty paintings for you last month. Didn’t we tell you that you won’t be inviting them over till next month? Let the couple rest their fingers.” Pedro smiled.

    Yulia ran into the room suddenly, breaths shaky and chest the same.

    “The news…the…news.”

    Four was the first to tear out of the the room, running downstairs. His steps stopped in front of the television, and the news he met made him almost die.

    Rue and Vaughn, the popular painters from Kalynda. They got in an accident at the end of a cliff last night when they were travelling to an unknown location, and they both…died?

    “It’s not our own Rue and Vaughn, right?” Pedro shook his head.

    Yulia sat on the couch and began crying, even Axel.

    “No…” Four shivered, shifting back from the tv. He took a flower vase and threw it at the screen, breaking it to bits.

    “No!!! It’s untrue! They’re not dead! They’re not!!!”

    “Four!” Pedro grabbed him in a firm hold with his shoulders, but Four broke free, kicking and wailing.

    “It’s not true!! It’s not true! They’re not gone!!!”

    He was acting insane, and his bones suddenly turned harder than it was.

    That vein stretched on his neck, shocking both parents.

    “Four!!!” Pedro and Yulia shouted in a deep chorus, fear gripping them.

    “Big… brother.” Axel stuttered.

    Four’s fingers travelled to his hair, and a small deranged laughter crackled from his throat.

    “I’m disgusting. A pig.” He muttered, going back upstairs.

    “Four!!” Pedro and Yulia went after him with Axel.

    His room door was already locked when they got there.

    And that was the start of the indoor self-trap.

                 • Present Time •

    Four is still standing in front of the college gate.

    But he’s now conscious of his surroundings, conscious of the students who’re staring at him, and the breeze against his sweaty skin.

    He got into a taxi down the road.

    “The base?” The driver asked.

    Four replied with a simple nod. He’s gonna return to the base and tell Teal he’s responsible for the death of her father and Rue.

    She deserves to know that before this gets any worse cos obviously…Rue is getting revenge on him.

    The president is surely the blackmailer.

    Rue is seeking revenge on him and the president, and it’s understandable.

    Now she needs to face the two of them and leave the citizens alone.

    Cos if that next attack happens, then thousands will die.

    And before Rue gets to the president, he’s gonna have to make him pay for giving him this ugly scar first.

    He dipped his hands into the side pocket of his uniform, bringing out the small single antidote pill sent by the blackmailer.

    He didn’t take it since then. He doesn’t deserve to take it.

    [Ring Building]

    “Why…?” Teal held Rue by the arms very firmly. “Why!!!”

    “You grew your hair, so I expected a lotta changes to come with the growth, and I wasn’t wrong. But aren’t you being rude? You’re seeing me after 17 years, and the first thing you ask is why?” Rue glared cruelly.

    “No matter what you’ve been through, you shouldn’t involve the citizens!! The citizens did nothing wrong, but you’ve killed thousands!! So you made it alive all these while, and you hid in the dark, developed you skills and began your lunacy? You couldn’t even come see me? You were more concerned with revenge than your actual daughter? If you’re that interested in revenge, you should have killed the president!!” Teal yelled, pushing her away.

    “Add Empress to that list… she’s the same person who made the powder for Spyros to destroy my womb when I was in jail with Vaughn!” Rue pushed Teal too.

    Teal’s eyes came wide, tears welling inside.

    “W..what!”

    Rue took a deep breath, smiling…”I had to beg Vaughn to sleep with another woman so he wouldn’t die childless cos of me. We hired a woman… Anassa. Vaughn laid her, and she had you, then she handed you over and we payed her off. You automatically became my daughter.” Rue said without breathing.

    Teal took a step back, eyes unable to blink and knees turning weak. She just got the second hit, and it pierced her like a bullet.

    “An..assa?”

    “I purposely made Boma the attack location the other time so you’d meet her. You should thank me for that.” Rue smiled.

    Teal’s phone buzzed, she checked with hot breaths.

    It’s Uncle Paul.

    Uncle P: I have a lot to tell you about your biological mother. It’s not Rue, it’s someone else. Rue is actually USMAN. Don’t get anxious, we’ll talk better after I get Dave out of the lion’s den.

    Teal looked up slowly, her eyes clashing with Rue’s who’s still standing in front of her with that funky smile.

    “Where is my dad?” She asked, surprised by her own calmness.

    “He didn’t survive the accident, unfortunately. He covered my body with his own during the accident.” Rue replied.

    Teal covered her mouth with her palm, crying slowly.

    “Dad….”

    Her sounds were shallow but painful, muffled by her palm.

    Rue came closer again, her smile disappearing.

    “And now you’ve played enough games with Four. Cos he’s included in my last plan.” She said.

    Teal’s wet, ruthless eyes snapped to her immediately, and she grabbed Rue violently by the neck, nearly breaking it as she threw her back.

    Rue staggered heavily to the wall, smirking with a cutting glare. Her back made a thick thud.

    “If you touch Eros, that’ll be the end of us…I mean me and you. Don’t go near him, you’ve done enough, and stop the craziness about hurting the citizens! Go after the President and Empress!!”

    “And Four!! He called us out of the house that night! He’s working with the president, so don’t ever believe whatever he says! Four is the main reason we left the house that night! We weren’t supposed to leave the ranch but he dragged us with his lies!!” Rue roared.

    Teal’s head was smoking. It’s cloudy and choky at the same time. She went still. “What did you… just…say?”

                     • Teal’s Age 7 •

    [Ambrose Ranch]

    It’s the early hours of the night, and the couple already finished eating dinner of veggies and chicken, but Teal is still by the dinning table, eating the leftovers.

    The parents sat across her, watching her eat with smiles. 

    Vaughn might not be seeing her, but as he sat there with his black shades, Rue explained how Teal is eating to him.

    “Can you stop that? It’s creepy. Don’t tell him details.” Teal said with a sharp eye roll.

    “Darling, are you still mad about the castle?” Vaughn smiled.

    Teal dropped her spoon and stood.

    “Yes! I mean…why wouldn’t I be allowed to follow you? The DeVille couple bought my ugly big dipper painting for a million, and I’m dying to meet them and say thanks, but you’re telling me I can’t follow you cos the first son of the house hates noise? Fine, I’m a very loud person, but I promise to behave and not make a sound throughout our stay…”

    “Lies…we both know you’re noise, and noise is you. You’re the same person who got sick when we visited the temple for a sleepover cos it was too quiet. You can’t go to the Castle, Teal. And besides… we’re not going to the Castle again till next month.” Rue said.

    “So that next month, I can follow?” Teal smiled.

    “No.” Rue and Vaughn chorused.

    Teal’s smile disappeared, and Rook entered the house.

    “It’s ball time, Battery!” He announced.

    “Even better.” She rolled eyes at both parents and left the house with Rook.

    “She’s so recalcitrant.” Rue muttered.

    “She took that from you,” Vaughn commented, removing his glasses.

    His eyes are widely open, and they look totally fine and healthy.

    “When are we gonna tell her you can actually see? The whole world might think you’re a blind man, but she deserves to know the truth.” Rue said seriously.

    “Soon. I’ll find a good time to tell her. I’ve regained my sight before we even became college students, and it’s been a long time, so telling her means she’s gonna get really mad. You know how her temper is, timing is important.” Vaughn sighed.

    Rue placed her head on his arm, he stroked her hair fondly.

    On the table, Rue’s phone buzzed alive, she picked it up with a drag.

    “It’s the first son calling… Four”

    “Really? But Lady Yulia said we’re not to draw paintings till next month.” Vaughn replied.

    “I’ve never believed in that, you know how much Four is obsessed with ink.” Rue smiled, picking the call.

    “Can you come paint a birthday present for me tonight? It’s my birthday.” Four’s voice spoke up, and the couple stood at the same time.

    “Your birthday? How come we’re just hearing about it? The day is almost over…it’s 10pm!” Vaughn said surprisingly.

    “Mum must have forgotten, and it must have skipped my mind since I don’t fancy parties. But I don’t care…I just need a new painting to look at. The drive here should be 3hrs if you’re fast, I’ll pay for everything.” Four replied.

    The couple didn’t argue.

    They left the ranch that night in their new brown car, and Rue got busy singing along with the playing song on the stereo.

    Vaughn slid his glasses into the drawer so he’d concentrate more on the driving. Thanks to the tinted windows, they’re covered from the prying eyes of the townspeople.

    “Spyros…” Rue suddenly released a sigh.

    “Why are you bringing that name up again. Don’t remind me of the start of our misery.” Vaughn replied.

    “He has people watching us, I believe.” Rue said.

    “Why would he still be interested in our lives after everything he did? He’s the president now, we’re the least of his problems.” Vaughn said.

    “But yesterday when I was at the town supermarket, I saw strange guards behind me and—”

    Rue stopped talking, eyes balling wide when she saw a coming car. It’s coming directly for them like it was sent, and the driver’s face is hidden.

    “Noo!!!!!!!!!” The couple shrieked, the horror of the night registering in their wide eyes till the car crashed into their own. Vaughn quickly covered Rue with his own body.

    The car is bigger, so their car took the heaviest hit, rolling out of the road completely. Two somersaults brought it back to land, but it didn’t stop.

    The car geared down the swampy area, crossing trees and fallen branches, rounding one more somersault before it arrived at the edge of the forest cliff.

    It didn’t wait. It was sharp.

    The car fell inside, taking several stones along with it.

                      • Present Time •

    Teal is already squatting, bawling out her eyes and also smiling devastatingly as her eyes closed and opened, red streaks decorating it.

    Rue squatted beside her, touching her shoulder gently…

    “I also did nothing to deserve what Spyros and Empress and the rest did to me! I did nothing to deserve what Prof Kai did! Vaughn did nothing to deserve everything! We were too innocent, and the world took advantage of that, so I switched it up. I became their worse nightmare. Where is the fun if I just kill Spyros and his cohorts? Where is the fun if I had ended them fast? The whole world deserves to have a taste of that wickedness!” 

    Teal’s tears slowed, but it didn’t stop as she looked up, her eyes meeting with Rue’s.

    “You might not be my biological daughter, but I raised you, and I love you, and I would never harm you, I’d rather die. I’ve been watching you from the shadows since long ago, and I came out today cos It’s hightime you avenge your father with me.” Rue muttered, the heat of the venom in her eyes so contagious.

    Teal could feel it in every pore.

    She stood up when another person appeared in the building, and she wasn’t even shocked to see it’s Theo.

    “Meet my first human robot. I made him two years ago, and he has been efficient till now.” Rue introduced.

    Theo bowed respectfully to Teal, but he didn’t say a word.

    “You ready, darling? I’ll introduce you to my world of science and art and tech, and also… you’ll get to see your father’s grave.” Rue rubbed Teal’s back.

    Teal didn’t nod nor talk, but her red eyes says yes, so Rue smiled, removing the band from her ponytail to release the long strands of hair.

    The hair covered Teal’s face, she didn’t bother to brush them away.

    “Spyros will probably get arrested by the cops soon, but they don’t know he’s mine yet. I’ll take him right in front of them, and that’s where the war starts from before it’d stretch to Four and the others.” Rue said.

    Teal looked at her, their eyes meeting and sharing the same blaze.

    “This way,” Theo pointed.

    Rue was still rubbing Teal’s back as they both walked to the door, leaving the building completely.

    Theo followed behind.

    [Therapeia Underground Annex]

    “We have to drop her from the tub, ma’am. Electric bed works better to multiply neurons, and we do not have that. She might die like Hera.” An assistant panicked behind Empress.

    Empress turned around so fast, her eyes inhuman. “If it fails to work on her too, then y’all better get ready cos I’ll be throwing everyone inside one after the other!”

    The assistants seemed to freeze after that, so she turned back to the tub where Gem is struggling for her life.

    Dave entered the annex, and when he saw Hera’s body on the ground and The Marquis laying unconscious beside her, he stopped.

    But his eyes widened when he saw Gem inside the tub.

    “You said you wanted to go pick up something, you’re late.” Empress faced him.

    “Paul was questioning me,had to tell him lies.” Dave said carefully.

    “I hate that man,” Empress hissed, turning back to the tub again.

    Gem is still struggling inside.

    Dave counted the seconds with his breaths, and at the third second, he pulled a stun gun out of his pocket, hitting Empress’s back with it.

    It was surely unexpected cos Empress trembled roughly before dropping on the ground.

    The assistants came for Dave at the same time, but one punch from him to each one of them was enough.

    They all fell unconscious like Empress.

    Dave flung one of the laptops at the water tub, breaking it down.

    Water filled the annex, reaching his calves. Gem’s body fell out limply.

    “Gem!” Dave ran to get her up. 

    Her body is slippery with the water, but she helped herself to stand on her feet. Obviously, she wants to live.

    “You…you know my name?” She muttered.

    “This ain’t the time for chats, let’s go.” Dave pulled her.

    She followed.

    They jointly opened the ward doors of the other patients. There are fifteen of them.

    Dave and Gem led the way, and the other fifteen patients followed into the tunnel, the sounds of their feet pounding the ground so heavy, rivalling drums of war.

    But then, things didn’t go as smoothly as expected, cos just when they were about to get to the thin door, the giant annex dogs broke out.

    They look starved, hungry, angry.

    Dave pulled the door open, then he began pushing the patients out one by one as the dogs came at them.

    “This door leads to another. Code is 4QRK. You can only try once so don’t miss. Go, and don’t turn back!” Dave shouted, shielding them from the dogs with his body.

    When the dogs finally got to them, they focused on him since he’s blocking their way.

    His arms, legs, body and stomach. Their teeth entered every hole on his skin, but he kept shielding the patients out though.

    “Sir!!!” Gem shouted from outside, crying bitterly as she watched his dripping blood and tearing flesh.

    “I said go!!! Your boyfriend is waiting! You must take these patients out at all costs, ok? No matter what!” Dave smiled, and one of the dogs tore his lap skin with the paw nails.

    “Sir!!!!” Gem cried loudly again, holding the gate metals.

    “Go!!!!!!!!!!” Dave yelled painfully, hitting the gate.

    Gem led the other patients away in a fast run, and immediately they left, Empress appeared from the annex corner with her assistants.

    They finally woke up.

    “I knew I smelled betrayal from you. Too bad you became food for my dogs.” Empress shrugged.

    “Follow the patients, none of them must get out, especially Gem Number 44!” She yelled at the assistants.

    They ran out the extra door, and Empress’s phone came alive with a buzz.

    890: Tomorrow, Ring building.

    “Usman?” Her eyes stretched.

    “Finally? You’ve decided to meet me? Finally?” She smiled. “Yes!!” 

    [President’s Mansion]

    The warrant took more than five hours.

     Jason and Mr. Yuri arrived at the mansion at two minutes to midday.

    They came with nearly all cops from the bureau for the search, and when they showed the warrant at the door, their entry was automatically approved into the mansion.

    Unluckily for President Spyros and Katerina, they were both carrying Quentin and Xanthe out for the drive to the airport when the entry happened.

    They’re at the staircase, so they froze with the guards behind them.

    Spyros was controlling the wideness of his eyes, but he was helpless cos it kept widening.

    Katerina was worse, her mouth is included in the wideness when she saw Jason with the police men.

    “It wasn’t wrong after all.” Mr. Yuri spoke with obvious disgust.

    “We were taking them to the hospital, they drank too much and got sick.” Katerina lied, and Mr. Yuri laughed.

    “I’m not a fool, Katerina. We got a report of the president keeping his son in a house custody, so I trailed the news, and here we are, but not only your son but another guy? Isn’t he your brother, Katerina?” Mr. Yuri sneered.

    “How dare you break into the house of the president!! How dare you even step into the estate!!” President Spyros yelled.

    “Get him arrested, throw him in solitary for a year till I’d decide what to do with him!”

    The inner mansion guards were already stalking to Mr. Yuri when he raised the arrest warrant.

    There are two papers.

    “I got one from the regional bureau and I got one from the national! This is a country with law, and you swore during your inauguration that if anything suspectable occurs during your presidency, you’d cooperate with the law! President Spyros Dimitris, are you going against your own words now?” Mr. Yuri glared.

    President Spyros went mute, and his guards also went still. Mrs. Katerina has never been this spelled.

    “Take the boys from them.” Mr. Yuri ordered the cops.

    They moved immediately, taking both Quentin and Xanthe from them.

    The boys were lay on the ground, and Jason quickly brought a bottled water out of his jacket pocket. He kept it her for sudden matters like this.

    He sprinkled water on the guys, and it looked like they won’t react at first, but Xanthe suddenly coughed back to life, then Quentin.

    “Xanthe!” Jason knelt beside him.

    “Quentin?” Mr. Yuri tapped Quentin.

    Xanthe’s eyes opened with a flick, and then they widened as he sat up.

    “Jason? You came for me?” 

    “I always keep to my promises.” Jason smiled, and Xanthe hugged him unexpectedly, so tight and intimate.

    Jason’s eyes almost widened, but he just smiled and hugged him back.

    “You ok, Quentin?” Mr. Yuri tapped him again.

    President Spyros and Katerina are both shivering obviously right now.

    “I’m… I’m still alive?” Quentin blinked, looking around.

    His eyes popped when he saw Katerina and Spyros and the multitude of cops.

    He spranged up, rushing to Katerina. He grabbed her by the collar.

    “Quentin!” She gasped.

    “I am your blood brother! Why would you connive with this trashy president to harm me!! I could have died on the staircase if not for Xanthe!!” He yelled.

    “I didn’t know about the staircase incident till it happened!!” Katerina said in defense.

    “Even if you knew, you would have supported the motion cos all your life you’ve always been the president’s shadow!” Quentin pushed her roughly.

    She staggered on the staircase below, and Xanthe finally stood from the ground, facing Spyros who looks like he doesn’t know how to talk anymore.

    “Were you gonna send us outta the country to keep us shut, daddy?” He muttered, going closer.

    Hush fell in the mansion, and Spyros moved his mouth to talk, but he couldn’t.

    “You were obsessed with Rue despite the fact that she was with Vaughn! When she wouldn’t do your wish, you stole their reports and graduated as the best student with it! You cancelled their medical license, sent them to jail, you ruined Rue’s womb, made them poorer than poor! They returned to their hometown, Rue miraculously gave birth to Teal, and you still went ahead to kill them in that accident!! And after killing them, you want their daughter for me cos you want Rue’s bloodline? What the fûck is your name!!! You’re not human, you’re an animal so tell me what your name is. Snake? No, you’re more venomous than a snake you Lucifer!!!” Xanthe cried painfully.

    He grabbed Skyros by the collar of his tang suit, and Spyros just stood there, allowing him.

    Mr. Yuri was recording every of his utterance, and the cops were too stunned. Jason is just there, looking at the hurt and pains in Xanthe’s eyes.

    “I’m so ashamed to be your son! I’m so ashamed!! I’m so ashamed!!!! Please just kill me! I want to die!!!” Xanthe yelled.

    “Teal isn’t Rue’s daughter though. He succeeded in ruining her womb so Rue hired a woman for Vaughn to impregnate.” Jason supplied.

    “You’re not my father…” Xanthe muttered, his face wet with waterworks as he locked eyes with the president.

    “I did everything you said, but killing her? I didn’t kill Rue and Vaughn! I wasn’t involved in the accident! I wouldn’t kill Rue!” Spyros said.

    “Stop lying!!!” Xanthe shoved him back. Spyros staggered on Katerina who’s just standing.

    “Don’t lie, I’m sick of it!”

    “I’m not lying! I wouldn’t lie at this stage! I didn’t kill Rue and Vaughn!!” Spyros stood back.

    “So who killed them?” Xanthe demanded.

    “I know who.” Quentin spoke up, and it’s like fire entered the mansion immediately as everyone faced him.

    “The person was obsessed with Spyros just the way Spyros was obsessed with Rue, and she has been secretly enjoying Spyros inhumanity towards the couple.” Quentin said.

    Katerina pulled him, but he pushed her away as fast as possible. Katerina fell back.

    “I read your phone diary! Wicked people shouldn’t keep diaries yunno? I read everything last autumn, I know everything, and that’s why I’ve been frequenting the base!” Quentin snapped.

    “She was the happiest when Rue and Vaughn returned to their hometown. Then Spyros became President, and she became his secretary. She was happier, but then she found out Spyros was still monitoring Rue in their hometown, and she didn’t like the fact that he still wasn’t over Rue, so she made the accident plan, but Rue and Vaughn would never travel outside Kalynda except if they got invitation to the Castle, so she used the only way possible…She used Four.” Quentin continued…

    “She blackmailed him at age 11, threatened him and burned him with a poisoned branding iron. The iron is in her room at home, and I’ll bring it over if y’all need it.”

    “She blackmailed him till his 12th birthday when he finally gave in and called the couple to the Castle. On their way to the Castle, she killed them in that accident. The car she used to hit their car is parked in our old garage at our former house!!” Quentin yelled.

    “Who’re you talking about?” Mr. Yuri asked to be sure.

    With slowness, Quentin faced Mrs. Katerina, smirking disappointedly.

    “Katerina, my sister. The president’s secretary.”

    TBC.

    Next Episode 

    Previous Episode 

  • The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 43&44

    The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 43&44

     

    THE MAFIA’S DEADLY DEVOTION

    The Mafia’s Deadly Devotion- Episode 43&44

     (..Stuck with the mafia boss..)

    By; Cherry Love F.

    “He’s not feeling well queen mother, he can’t even move”. Alyssa frowned.

    “I don’t care. Give him a call now!”. Queen mother snapped.

    Alyssa gritted her teeth and glanced at Carlos, he was silent and then she realized that she hadn’t told him why Angelo couldn’t come.

    “Come with me”. She whispered to him.

    “You have three seconds”. The queen mother said, pacing around with her head in her hands.

    Alyssa ignored her and grabbed Carlos, pulling him to a corner.

    “What’s going on?”. Carlos asked.

    “Angelo, he’s down with a fever, severe one. He can’t come here, gawd, shouldn’t this be a funeral?, I feel like i could shoot anything right now”. Alyssa rambled, roughing her hair.

    “Then what do we tell queen mother?, Surely we can’t go out there and announce that Angelo is sick or the rats could take advantage of that”. He reasoned.

    “Obviously. Look, i don’t give a damn about Emily but i will not let Angelo put himself in danger because of her or anyone else for that matter”. Alyssa gritted, fisting her palms.

    “Calm down for a second…..

    Carlos began but the queen mother’s voice interrupted him.

    “I need you to come here ASAP”. She said to someone over the phone and said other things that were barely audible due to the distance.

    “She had better not called gelo”. Alyssa muttered and started marching towards the group. The queen mother put down her phone and looked at all of them.

    “You’re dismissed”.

    “Did you call Angelo?”. Alyssa deadpanned.

    “I don’t owe you an answer Alyssa, you’re dismissed”. Queen mother said sternly and started walking around. Katherine locked eyes with Alyssa and signalled for her to calm down.

    ….

    Emily stared at Angelo who was still asleep, then gently placed his phone back on the bedside table. She’s the one that answered the call, Angelo was still high from the fever, his body burning up rapidly. 

    “Emz, are you in there?”. Bluey called from outside, Emily stood up immediately and opened the door.

    “I….

    “Come with me”. Bluey didn’t even wait for an answer, she just pulled Emily out of the room, closing the door  of  Angelo’s room behind them.

    “What’s wrong?”. Emily asked, furrowing her brows.

    “What were you doing there?, What if he hurt you?”. Bluey snapped.

    “What are you saying?, Why would you even think that he’d hurt me?”. Emily frowned.

    “Are you really defending him?, Emily what’s gotten over you?, You’re supposed to hate him!, Have you forgotten?”. Bluey fired.

    “I know that….i didn’t forget…

    “Then say it”. Bluey cut in.

    “Say what?”. Emily raised her brow.

    “Say that you hate Angelo”. 

    Emily looked at her weirdly.

    “What are you….

    “Don’t change the topic. Say you hate angelo”. 

    “I hate……..”. Emily began then bent her head. “Angelo”. She mumbled.

    “Look me in the eyes and say it Emily and say it like you mean it!”. 

    “Bluey stop, okay?, Please just stop”. Emily snapped. “You’re right, whatever you’re thinking is right!, I don’t hate him”. 

    “Emily he killed your aunt for fucks sake, you’re in love with him?, He’s a murderer”. Bluey scoffed.

    “I…i….i didn’t say I’m in love with him”. Emily mumbled with a flushed face.

    “But your actions scream love, Emily. He killed your aunt, he mistreated you, he tried to kill you three times, he ruined your family, he made you kill someone, he put your life in danger so many times, he’ll keep hurting you over and over again, you’re too young to know what love is, he’ll never love you because he’s not capable of that, you know why?, Because he’s never experienced it to be able to give it to someone and he deserves it…..

    “Bluey, that’s enough”. Emily screamed and bluey threw her hand over her mouth, she couldn’t believe she just let her feelings out because of her anger.

    “I …i… didn’t”. She shook her head.

    “How could you say such a thing about him?, I really can’t believe you right now, you’re so mean”. Emily fired.

    “Because I’m saying the truth?”.

    “No. Because you don’t know any thing about him. Not a single thing, i thought you respected him, i even thought you liked him, you were friends with him before and you’re saying this?”. Emily scoffed, moving away from her.

    “He’s not who he was after he lost his mom, he became a devil. A literal one. Can you defend someone who’s ended so many lives?, You’re supposed to be the reasonable one, the pure one, now love has blinded you too!”. Bluey shot out, glaring at Emily.

    “You’re one to talk. I’ve seen you with zade, would you tell me he’s never hurt anyone before?”. 

    “Don’t drag zade into this. He’s completely different….”. 

    “Just stop. I don’t want to talk to you right now”. Emily stopped her by placing a hand in front of her, creating more space between them.

    “I’ll advise you because I take you as my friend, stay away from Angelo, he’ll only hurt you. Anyone around him gets hurt, even his own twin wasn’t spared. You do know that Nora is dead, right?, It’s only a matter of time before those around him are, too”. Bluey said and walked over to the kitchen.

    Emily blinked back tears, she started running outside, not bothering to check on Angelo. It’s the first time she and bluey are disagreeing and it’s really big.

    “How can you judge him like that?”. She mumbled, wiping her tears furiously.

    She didn’t notice a figure moving past her.

    *

    Angelo drove at full speed as usual, his fever was slowly cooling but it was not yet gone completely and his headache was still there. He slammed on the brakes and drove into a ditch to avoid a car that nearly rammed into his. He cursed, slamming his fist on the steering wheel before reversing the car and driving again.

    His phone rang, queen mother was calling him, he rolled his eyes and switched his phone off, at the same, accelerating.

    “How long will she wait for?, It’s obvious he won’t show up”. Blade clicked his tongue.

    “I know right?, I don’t just get it.”. Kate agreed. Elena and Katherine were silent. Hades was cleaning himself up after moving all the guards that were shot dead. Carlos and Alyssa were there too, though Katherine and Alyssa’s fingers were interlaced and Katherine rested her head on Alyssa’s shoulders.

    The queen mother kept pacing around. Suddenly, Angelo’s car drove in recklessly, him just managing to park a few metres past them. Angelo stayed in his car for a while before stepping out and the queen mother was then right in front of him.

    “Angelo?”. Alyssa scrambled up her feet.

    “What took you so long?”. The queen mother asked.

    “I had work”.

    “I called you over an hour ago and you weren’t even responding till i hung up”. She said.

    “Like I said”. Angelo muttered and looked at her fully. “What do you want?”. 

    “What are you doing here?”. Alyssa whispered to him, though she had to stand on her tiptoes to do that.

    “I’m fine”. Angelo muttered.

    “Here”. The queen mother handed him the paper when Alyssa stepped back.

    Angelo looked at her first, then the writing on the paper, his face remaining stoic all through.

    “Who sent this?”. He asked, folding it.

    “The Russians and french. They have blood ties with each other and for all we know, there’s a rat among us here”. 

    “Why is she involved in this?”. He asked again.

    “Didn’t you hear what I said?, We have a rat here”. The queen mother snapped.

    “Why is she involved in this?”. Angelo repeated and she sighed. The rest of the guys were just busy watching the exchange between them.

    “Because they know she’s special to you, or at least you care about her and she’s too damn innocent for this, an easy target to get you”. 

    Angelo shot his brow up.

    “That’s why, you must send her back”. The queen mother finished and they all gasped.

    “And if i refuse?”. Angelo asked.

    “Then you’re endangering her”. Queen mother answered.

    “I can protect her…”

    “That’s not the point, Angelo. You need to send her back because you’re getting attached to her”. She said.

    “And that’s a bad thing, why?”. Carlos asked from the side.

    “Because emotions make one weak”. 

    Everyone stayed silent at that. Hades and Katherine, blade and kate even Alyssa and carlos all glanced at each other. Elena stared at Angelo.

    “She’s not going anywhere”. Angelo finally said.

    “Angelo, didn’t you hear what i said?”.

    “I did and i know that you fucking heard me too”. Angelo snapped, then looked at all of them before heading back to his car.

    “Angelo”.

    “Don’t say anything. I won’t listen”. He said not looking back.

    Angelo and Alyssa prepared to go too.

    “Angelo, wait a minute and come with me”. The queen mother said.

    “Queen mother, I don’t want to listen to anything you have to say right now”. 

    Carlos looked at Angelo and then the queen mother.

    “Just listen to her this once. She might be right”. He whispered to Angelo.

    “Yeah, gelo, hear her out”. Alyssa agreed.

    Angelo sighed and turned back, following the queen mother as she led the way.

    *Time skip*.

    It was night time now and Emily and bluey still weren’t talking, josh only glanced at them, noticing something was off with both of them.

    Emily glanced at the front door once in a while, waiting for Angelo to come in, she hadn’t even noticed him leaving and there was no one to talk to. She was in her room but she peeked from the door.

    Seconds later, she heard the sound of a car pulling over and her heart skipped a bit when Angelo came in, Alyssa and Carlos behind him. Emily was quick to notice his mood, he seemed off, probably…..colder?

    Carlos left them and headed towards her, Emily looked at him in confusion when he stood in front of her.

    “Come on”. He mumbled and she stood up slowly.

    “Gawd…. surely i haven’t done anything wrong this time around”. Emily cried in her heart.

    They stopped in front of Angelo, Alyssa was drinking a glass of alcohol and Angelo stood with his hands in his pockets. Angelo’s gaze swept through Emily and she felt her hairs stand on end as they held eye contact. 

    Angelo licked his lips and ran a finger through his hair and looked away from her.

    “Pack up, you’re leaving”. He finally said and Emily looked at him in confusion.

    “W-where am i going?”. She stuttered.

    “To your parents. You’re free to go”. He said and her eyes widened. Carlos stared at her sadly while Alyssa seemed less bothered.

    “Really?”. 

    Angelo nodded and turned back. Emily’s smile widened at the thought of seeing her family again but a thought crossed her mind.

    “Do i get to come back?”. She asked.

    “No”.

    “What?”. Emily felt her feet leaving the ground but Carlos held her.

    “Emily, you’re really free to go back to your normal life, forget everything about the mafia and be happy once again”. Carlos tried to reason.

    “N-no, i want to come back here, I didn’t do anything wrong”. Emily countered.

    “Why would you want to stay here, away from your family?”. Alyssa asked, dropping her glass.

    “I…

    “That’s enough”. Angelo said and they looked at him. “Pack up, you’re leaving tonight and you’re never coming back. Forget everyone here”. 

    “What am i?, A robot?, I can’t just turn off my memory, my feelings, everything just like that!”. Emily yelled, going to stand in front of Angelo.

    “Why are you suddenly telling me to leave?”. She asked.

    “That’s not your problem. Forget everything”. Angelo said.

    “Forget everything?, Forget bluey?, Josh?, Carlos?, Alyssa….. forget us?”. Emily mumbled quietly, a tear slipping down her eyes.

    “Us?”. Angelo raised his brow. “There’s nothing between us”. 

    “Nothing?, The kisses?, They were nothing to you?, Every conversation, every thing you made me feel?”. She scoffed. Angelo didn’t say anything.

    “I……..i love you, Angelo”. Emily uttered and Angelo turned to her abruptly. Out of the corner of her eyes, Emily saw bluey who had a sad knowing look on her face.

    Angelo leaned down so he was the same head level as Emily.

    “Love?, Love gets you nowhere, sweetheart, I’ve told you before. It’s something one should never feel, that shit is only real in movies. You should know that by now and face reality”. Angelo said, his words dripping with ice.

    “No… please don’t do this to me”. Emily pleaded and Angelo made sure to look in her eyes.

    “Josh…..take her”. He said and Josh came out. In his hand, a small bag, containing the clothes that Angelo had bought for Emily during her stay.

    .

    Next Episode 

    Previous Episode 

  • Insatiable Cravings – Episode 143

    Insatiable Cravings – Episode 143

     

     

    INSATIABLE CRAVINGS

    Insatiable Cravings – Episode 143

    Subtitle; {Loving You Is A Loosing Game} 

    TAGS: Age-gap, Mafia, Forbidden Love, Drama, Tragedy and Betrayal.

    Settings: United Kingdom, Russia and others.

    By: Chukwuma Rejoice 

    ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

    ~ Genevieve ~

    If you’d told me a couple of years ago that I’d spend up to a week in forced isolation, I would have laughed in your face. Yet there I was, on day five of a bàstard’s captivity.

    And not just any bastard—a calculating one, the sort whose mind was always three steps ahead.

    I could feel mine fraying, my grip on composure slipping grain by grain. My thoughts were a restless swarm, leaping from one dreadful possibility to the next, each one darker than the last.

    Rory, by contrast, had found a sort of uneasy rhythm to being trapped. But every so often, she released a sharp hiss of frustration that sliced through the stale air like a whip.

    It was afternoon now. I was sitting on the bed, staring at the door as though I could burn it down with my glare. Rory sat beside me, equally still.

    Low voices leaked through the wood—Viktor’s, the man who had slappéd me, and several others. It was too muffled to make out, and the harder I strained my ears, the more my agitation coiled tight in my chest.

    Throwing my head back, I closed my eyes and let out a low groan, the sound slipping through my lips like smoke.

    What the héll were they talking about?

    I got to my feet, padded towards the door, and pressed my ear against it, desperate for a fragment of clarity.

    “You’re seriously not planning to tell Dominic where they are?”

    My heart lurched. It was the voice of the ídiot who had hit me.

    “No,” Viktor replied—and God, even in that single word you could hear the smirk in his voice. “I want him begging, frantic, just a little longer.”

    “A frantic Dominic does sound nice, but I think… I doubt he’ll be any less ruthless.”

    “That’s why I do the thinking,” Viktor’s tone was laced with quiet authority, the sort that brooked no argument. “And Dominic couldn’t afford to be ruthless now. Not when we had the two people he cared for most.”

    The other voices faded until only Viktor and the idiót remained.

    “I’m just saying,” He muttered, voice lowered, “maybe you should reconsider. Tell Dominic sooner. Let him come here, you get what you want, and he gets the girls back.”

    A sharp hiss, the crack of a palm against a surface. “For Christ’s sake, Ed, stop being such a girl about this!”

    “I’m not being a girl!” Ed’s anger flared, then waned into something more measured. “You, of all people, know who those girls in there are. Aurora is Dominic’s sister—she could kíll half our men if you handed her a weapon. She’s an assàssin dressed as a Barbie. And the other one—Genevieve King. Henry King’s granddaughter. If the old man found out, he’d scour the earth for her. Her brother-in-law’s with the FBI. She’s pregnant with Dominic Morozov’s child—the man who—”

    “Is this overwhelming you?” Viktor cut in, voice a silk-wrapped blade.

    “No, I just—”

    “Ed, calm down and stop being such a girl. We had the upper hand. Henry could summon every army he knew, but he wouldn’t find us. I don’t care if her brother-in-law is the FBI himself—he wouldn’t act without risking his pregnant wife. And Dominic isn’t half as ruthless as you thought without his girls safe and sound. In fact, he is a weakling without them.”

    “You think so?”

    “I do.” Viktor chuckled. “Now stop worrying.”

    “Fine. But when will you tell Dominic where we are?”

    “Let’s see if he figures it out on his own.”

    Figures it out? How the héll could he—?

    “The camera only shows the room,” Ed replied.

    A camera?

    “Exactly,” Viktor said, with that smug note I wanted to punch clean out of him. “The longer he watched his girls pacing and restless, the more it would eat him alive.”

    Bàstard.

    “What if that hacker of his helps? She’s good.”

    “Who isn’t good in Dominic’s blóody clan?” There was venom and envy tangled in his tone. “He chose them well—that’s why that fóol Blade refused to join us after playing us.”

    Blade. I knew it. I knew he wasn’t working with these cretins.

    “Anyway, however good the hacker is, how will she know we’re in Canada from a single room?”

    Canada.

    I stepped back from the door, heart hammering, and returned to my seat with quiet, measured movements. Rory watched me, her expression taut with restrained patience.

    After a beat, I leaned closer, my voice a whisper. “We’re in Canada.”

    Her brow furrowed. “What?”

    “We. Are. In. Canada.” I mouthed the words.

    Recognition dawned, her eyebrows lifting as a small smile curved her lips. “You sure?”

    I nodded. “And there’s a camera.” My eyes darted about the room.

    “Oh, I know.” She glanced to the ceiling and pointed to a faint red blink. “There. I saw it the night they dragged us in.”

    “Why didn’t you say anything?”

    “I thought you’d seen it. It’s obvious.”

    “No, it isn’t.”

    The thing was cleverly hidden—only the tiny red dot betrayed it. No wonder I had missed it.

    “Sorry. I assumed you’d clocked it. I thought it was just for them to watch us.”

    I waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine.” Then I shifted closer to her and she did too, until I was leaning close to her ear. “It shows the live feed to Dominic. That’s what they said.”

    Rory’s eyes flicked to the red dot, then to me. “That meant Nic had been watching us all those days. He must have been feeling so helpless and useless, when he didn’t know where to find us from the feeds.”

    I nodded in agreement. “But now he knows.”

    The door was flung open with so much strength, lethal but as casual as ever. It had both me and Rory flinching. “He knows what?”

    Viktor.

    He stood at six feet, and somehow still felt taller. Like the room shrank when he entered, as though the air itself thickened in his presence. I noticed his skin was a smooth, bronze hue—rich and warm, but it never quite softened him. If anything, it only made the crúelty in his smile look more deliberate. Like sin dressed in sun.

    Viktor cocked his stupíd head to the side, his ever-murderous gaze pinning me down when I didn’t answer him. Then that cocky little disgusting smirk emerged on his face, déadly but bright. “I will repeat myself again—and I really, really hàte doing that—and if none of you answer me…”

    He left it like that. His threat hung in the air, unknown but dangeroús.

    I was busy stumbling over the new rising fear in me to even think of something to appease him with.

    However, Rory wasn’t.

    “You,” she said, ever so casually. The hint of loathing still present. “We were talking about you.”

    His eyes instantly—and I do mean instantly—flicked over to her waiting ones, which she was glaring at him with. “Hmm,” he let out an uncharacteristically soft hum, nodding his stupid head slowly. “Let’s say I believed you, okay, doll? What were you talking about? ”

    Rory’s glare grew even deeper. I didn’t think it was possible, but more haté swirled in her honey eyes for him. “God, I’m going to kíll you.”

    “But I thought we were really starting to be good friends.”

    The sincerity in his voice sounded so odd. So out of place. So not him, that it even had him cringing.

    “F+ck you.”

    He now grinned. “If you want me so bad, then I’ll gladly give you me.” He made a show of placing his palm on top of the left side of his chest, then the other palm on the first one. “I’ve been told I’m a generous giver, after all.”

    “Yeah?” She chuckled, and it was very mocking. “Let me guess, by the girls that told you you were good-looking?”

    Normal Genevieve would have laughed at that. Kidnappéd, pregnant Genevieve who just wanted to go home to her fiancé? Oh no, she didn’t find it funny enough to even crack a smile.

    “I like you,” he said with a small chuckle.

    And want to know the shocking part? It sounded genuine.

    “I don’t understand how the idíot raised you, and you’re like this and he’s like… like that.”

    Bàstard.

    I swear to God, if his head wasn’t rolling on the ground when this was over, then I am not Genevieve Dove King.

    At the unspoken mention of her brother, Aurora flew to her feet, as furious as ever. “If by ‘like that,’ you mean so ambitious and successful and excellent that lowlife peasants like yourself thought they could amount even a grain of his greatness, then yes. Dominic was like that.” Unafraid—or maybe she was hiding it well—and undeterred, she walked over to him. “And the next time you called my brother”—the possessiveness was loud and clear—“an ídiot, you should better start counting your days, because they will be your very last ones. Do you understand me, Viktor?”

    “First, it was her—” he jutted his head to me, earning an immediate frown from me. “—and her hilarious audacity. And now? It’s you and your comical bravery.” He lifted his hand to her face and I watched her fling it away with a grimace. “Does everyone who came in contact with the ídiot”—an intentional jab at her—“think that they’re suddenly untouchable?”

    “It’s not my brother’s fault that you’re lame.”

    “Lame?”

    “Yes.” She nodded. “And pathetic.”

    God…

    “…Rory.”

    Either she didn’t hear me or she chose to ignore me to do better things, like glare at the nincompoop in front of her.

    I tried again. “Rory.” And again. “Rory?” And again! “Aurora!”

    “Listen to your sister-in-law and stop mouthing off.”

    “I didn’t like being told what to do,” she retorted. “You would know that if you really did your research on me. What, are you an amateur?” She did the half-scoff, half-laugh he does. “Are you planning on using those skills when you ‘become’ the don?”

    As soon as her question landed, a loud slap also landed on her cheek, so heavy it pushed her off her feet.

    I sprung up on my own feet and rushed to her. Her face was red, one of her cheeks even redder, the corner of her mouth bloódy.

    “You’re a cóward, you know that, right? It’s only a weak man like yourself that raises his hands on a woman,” I snapped.

    My restraints were finally off. Self-control switched off too.

    “Want to mouth off too?”

    “Why, you’re going to hit me too?” I rasped, stepping closer to him. “Is it going to feed your ego? Hm? Will you clap for yourself, perhaps give yourself a pat on the back after you’re done?”

    “Maybe I will.”

    “Confirming my claim that you truly are a cóward. An untrained, too-ambitious cowàrd.”

    Viktor’s hand flew up again, ready to land hard on my face. I saw it coming, but didn’t even close my eyes—no, I glared at him.

    He stopped midway.

    “Dominic is going to skiñ you alive when he catches you,” I told him in the calmest voice I could muster. “And let’s pray you don’t have families, because he will make them pay for this foolísh act of yours.”

    That did it.

    In a flash, the back of his hand slammed hard on my face. I was dazed, and in less than a second his hand came down to squeeze my throat.

    TBC📖✍️

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  • The Sorrow Arc – Episode 7

    The Sorrow Arc – Episode 7

     

     THE SORROW ARC  

    The Sorrow Arc – Episode 7

      © Ameen Oppy 

          Unknown Sickness

          Grandma Oyedele woke up one morning and couldn’t raised her legs and arms, she could hardly talk. Titayo rushed her to one herbalist priest but couldn’t solve it with many trial the priest gave to it.

           What kind of sickness is this? Everyone asked but couldn’t find the right response.

                   Finally, Titayo took grandma Oyedele to the nearest hospital. She stayed at the hospital for two months receiving treatment. After two months, the doctor declared that grandma Oyedele was now crippled and she was suffering from heart attack disease that she will has to use wheel chair till death.

            Titayo was very sad about the incident and she didn’t had any hope of seeing the money for the wheel chair.

          She sold many of their little properties and bought grandma Oyedele a wheelchair.

       *Opportunity*

        Two years later 

                 Danella was in  cotton farm working like a machine with other slaves when the leader of the slaves cried in with some men that Master had died. Everyone was astonished. Danella was happy that the opportunity has come for her to run away.

            Since two, she had been working as a slave with many tasks and labour and she wished one day she would had a freedom. 

     There were many female and male both young and old. Some had been a slave since past thirty years, some gave birth there and some were killed.

          She quickly ran out away from the farm without anything before the matter would get complicated. She ran as  fast as her legs could carry her and at last she found herself on a tarred road and she started to  beg for money. She wanted to go back to their village.

                TBC 

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  • The Sorrow Arc – Episode 5

    The Sorrow Arc – Episode 5

     

     THE SORROW ARC  

    The Sorrow Arc – Episode 5

      © Ameen Oppy 

            Grandma Oyedele borrowed some money from double payment to rent an apartment as for them not to be hanging around the neighbors house.  Titayo was the guarantor while Danella was the collateral. The amount was one hundred and fifty thousand naira and in a month the money will be multiplied by two.

          They don’t own a house or any other tangible property. She used Danella as the collateral in hope that before a month, they would have gathered enough but if the money wasn’t found, the collateral would be taken away to an unknown place.

          

           Danella was against doing collateral because she knew it would be impossible for her grandma and mom to see the money within a month. The interest is too much.

                Dane on the other hand wrote an examination three years ago, it was state government examination and he was given a sponsorship by the State 

          He travelled to Ibadan to study leaving only Danella with their grandma.

           Danella thought lending money from double payment was greatest Mistake.

         

         

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