"I eliminated a child rapist and his accomplices," Mark replied. I halted my pacing, shut my eyes, and requested, "Tell me." "Hold on," Mark replied, his voice filled with urgency, and the sound of speed echoed through the line. "Give me a moment to speak with a friend," Mark's voice came through the phone, his tone suggesting he was conversing with someone else, causing my brows to furrow in curiosity. There was a loud bang as a car door slammed shut, followed by hurried footsteps. Then, Mark's words reached my ears, sending a disturbing revelation. "I was waiting as you instructed, but it turns out Kuklinski wasn't there for confession... He was there to engage in sexual acts with a minor..." "What?!" "His daughter…" "Oh, wow..." I murmured, astonished at how unfazed I was by such disturbing information. Mark's reaction to my lack of shock seemed to spark anger within him. "She is ten, Archer..." Mark's voice carried a low, forceful tone, emphasizing the gravity of the situati
"Since you already know that Bernard Kuklinski is dead, do you also know Mark is bringing in his love child?""Love child?" he repeated, sitting up, his thick eyebrows furrowed. A surge of pleasure rushed through me, knowing that even the all-powerful Victor Donovan had missed that piece of information."Bernard Kuklinski kept her in the convent," I said, leaving out the other details. "We need to protect her.""Ha, it's good that you acknowledge Jared as a ticking time bomb, ready to detonate and bring us all down. And yet, you eliminated his father, the only figure who had some semblance of control over him. His father may have been unstable, but he at least respected certain boundaries. Jared, on the other hand..." he paused, his voice filled with a mix of apprehension and concern."I understand that Jared needs to be dealt with, Father. And this new girl, we can groom her to assume control," I asserted, radiating confidence. Victor Donovan's eyebrows furrowed with intrigue."Berna
Emerging from the restroom, I glanced around and spotted Mark with a little girl, but Patricia was nowhere to be seen. A wave of relief washed over me, and I let out a sigh as I walked out, drying my face and hands with a towel. However, that lingering feeling of being the worst kind of person still haunted me, and I despised it. What was this feeling anyway? Was my conscience suddenly awakening, or was it because of Mark and Adele? Mark was a killer, just like me. Maybe he wasn't involved in incestuous affairs with his family, but he was as much a sinner as I was. So perhaps it was because of his captivating sister with her enchanting brown eyes. She was the one responsible for stirring up emotions I had no business feeling. Grinding my jaw, I tried to suppress the unsettling sensation, shaking my head in frustration as if that could somehow fix me."Dinner?" I asked Mark, who was fixing himself a drink."That would be nice, thanks," he replied, glancing at me. "Katie, meet my friend
Several nights had passed since I took on the role of Archer's nurse, and every night I eagerly anticipated the firm knock on the door connecting our rooms. It signaled that he was ready for me to assist with his bath or change his wound dressings. It had become the highlight of my days, as the rest of my time was occupied with reading fiction, attending online lectures, and enjoying the luxurious meals offered in Archer's home. Occasionally, he would join me for a meal, albeit in silence, but I relished those moments nonetheless. Despite his aloof and obnoxious demeanor, I found myself drawn to him, sensing that beneath his cold facade, there was a yearning for companionship.As the familiar knock resounded in the room, I rose from my bed, dressed in a loose blouse and shorts. With bated breath, I approached the door and opened it, stepping into his dimly lit room. Archer sat at the foot of the bed, wearing only his boxers, and I couldn't help but stare at his magnificently sculpted
"Archer? Adele?" Mark called from the hallway, his voice filled with urgency.Archer stood up, his tall figure commanding and intimidating. He reached out his left hand towards me and spoke firmly, "Get dressed." I nodded, taking his hand as he helped me off the bed. His gaze shifted from my eyes to my body, and I noticed his breath catch before he stepped back."When you're ready, meet us through that door," he pointed to the main exit, "not through here," he gestured towards the adjoining door.Confusion filled me as I asked, "What's happening?""We're under attack. Don't worry, Mark, and I will keep you safe," he assured me before leaving through the adjoining door. "Now might be a good time to adopt a more inconspicuous look," he added, glancing back at me, before locking the door behind him.In a rush, I followed Archer's instructions, quickly finding a matching sweatshirt and pants in the closet. I slipped on my white sneakers, grabbed a face cap to hide my hair, and slid my pho
It was a tremendous relief to witness her departure. I couldn't bear the thought of her being entangled in all of this, in the madness that consumed my life. She was pure and innocent, and I marveled at how Mark had managed to preserve that innocence despite everything the two had experienced together. It wouldn't be fair to shatter that delicate bubble of purity. Perhaps it was also because I dreaded her witnessing this side of me, the mobster, the killer—a wretched soul. I yearned to maintain a semblance of honor in her eyes, even if it meant keeping her shielded from the darkest aspects of my life. I longed for her to continue looking at me the way she always did when we were alone, with that untainted adoration in her eyes, even though I had forced her into intimate situations. And my God, the sight of her when I found her under the sheet, naked and lost in innocent desire, while Mark had gone to secure Katie and I went for Adele—it nearly undid me. The memory of her touch, her t
A wave of relief washed over me as I caught sight of Mark returning, carrying my bag. He asked me to wait in his car while he quickly retrieved my belongings. At first, I didn't consider it urgent, thinking that one of Archer's staff could pack and send it to us later. But Mark had insisted, emphasizing the importance. He headed straight to the trunk of the car and stowed the bag away before joining me inside. Settling behind the wheel, he turned to me and asked, "Ready?""Absolutely. Despite being surrounded by luxury these past few days, there's something strangely enticing about sleeping in my own bed," I shared, my excitement masked beneath a composed demeanor. Mark chuckled warmly."Great. How about we order some takeout and watch that new movie you've been eager to see together?" he suggested."Yay! Movie night. Movie night," I chanted gleefully. His laughter filled the car as he playfully nudged my shoulder."You're such a baby," he teased affectionately."And you love indulgin
The dimly lit nightclub pulsed with energy as I sat alone in the VIP section, surrounded by scantily dressed females coming and going. The air was thick with the beats of the music and the scent of perfume, but my attention was elsewhere. I stared into my glass, swirling the vibrant red liquid that was my signature cocktail—a fruity concoction with a strong kick of alcohol. It was a combination of tropical juices, a splash of rum, and a hint of lime. The glass glistened as condensation formed on its surface, the ice cubes clinking softly with each swirl.Usually, I would have called upon a few of my favorite strippers to entertain me, but tonight my thoughts were consumed by Adele. Her face lingered in my mind, her eyes, her laughter, the taste of her coating my tongue, her intoxicating fragrance—it all twisted my heart. I drank more and more, hoping to drown my thoughts in the intoxicating elixir.Unbeknownst to me, the girls who served me noticed my distress. Concerned gazes were ex