The heart monitor by the bedside table beeped, increasing the sense of foreboding within Christian, each beep sounded like his grandmother's life was fading away. "Christian," the old woman croaked weakly, her tone airy, her throat dry. Christian leaned closer to her, her frail hands in his tight grip and listened as she whispered, "You promised to let me see her, Christian, you promised I would see your beloved wife before I leave this earth." She said faintly, with a smile that brightened her pale and wrinkled face for a split second. "You will." He replied, his voice a deep baritone that hid his emotions, hid the sadness and dread within him to lose the only family he had, the only human who truly loved him. "You made a promise Christian, I raised you to be a man of your words." She reminded him, her feeble eyes staring pointedly at his handsome chiseled face. Christian nodded, "I'll bring her to you now, rest, I'll have the doctors check on you." He said and rose fro

Stephanie panicked as she saw the angry face of her parents. Her father was reddening with anger and her mother looked ready to kill. She regretted having to confront Christian after his loss and she wished she didn't have to do it but her parents were there and they had no intentions of going easy on him. "Where have you been, boy! For three days?" Mr. Rolando asked, his face mad. Then he realized Christian was neither intimidated nor affected by his query, instead he was wearing a piercing look that scared them both. "Who do you think you are, Christian? Neglecting our daughter and going off to nowhere for three whole days, you disgust me! " Stephanie's mother snapped and then moved into the room, going to stand beside her daughter, one hand on her shoulder and her glare directed at Christian. "What's this fiasco?" Christian asked, his voice as icy as when they'd first arrived, clearly unruffled by their outburst. This only scared the Rolando's who went ahead to bark at C

Christian hoped it was a bad joke, but she didn't seem eager to laugh it out anytime soon, she even looked a little nervous, biting her bottom lip and her gaze a little uncertain. Bafflement was clearly on Christian's face as Alice struggled to explain what she meant. "It's...not a real boyfriend Christian, I mean, I need your help." She said quickly, hoping to calm Christian who looked too shocked to function. "Look, I don't mean a real boyfriend, it's gonna be a faux, I just couldn't think of someone else that would be better for this than you, and I thought I could finally take that debt you said you owed me," she stated with a shrug and Christian nodded. "My father thinks I just attend his fundraiser night, I don't know why he lets them drag him to these fancy fake things but...he insisted I must come too. There's a man I'm trying to avoid and...I want you to come with me, just to make me have a plus one, maybe he'll back off once he sees I'm not alone." She explained calml

Christian stood still, his eyes unblinking as Harry jeered at him, his wry smile mocking, goading Christian into action but Christian wasn't that easily baited, he remained unmoved, his back straight, his stance firm. "You have no idea how many men have fallen by my hands, boy." He smirked mockingly, circling Christian like a culture would the carcass of its prey. Many in the crowd cheered and taunted Christian because they believed and had a first hand experience of Harry's skills in the ring, he'd won many cage fights underground and he was famous for his ruthlessness and lack of mercy for his opponent. He always fought to the last drop of blood - of his rival. "Don't you think for a second that you will walk free, no, you've met your end, Mr stranger." Harry said with a mocking laugh as he strolled to the open field where the crowd was pulling together, same taking out their cell phones for pictures. "I've killed seven men, all with my bare hands." He said, his voice a low a

Fury coursed through his veins, Christian could feel the blood pumping at the sheer disregard and insulting manner which the receptionist treated him, shoving his card on the floor and calling him names. "If I were you, I'd pick up that card, instantly." He growled, his voice low and menacing, his jaw twitching and his fist clenched. "And why would I do that? That's a fake card and you are here looking for a top-floor room, who do you think you are? Huh? You can't fool me!" She sneered and turned her attention back to the fancy woman who was there to book a suite for the next weekend. "Why don't you leave, young man, I don't think this place permits..." "Shut up." Christian snapped, his tone was icy, his stance even more scary. He was about to make the receptionist pick up his card, his card was much more than a piece of black chip, it was his identity, it represented him and he considered her foolish for daring him. Just as things were about to get out of hand, a m