An oppressive hush enveloped the room like a shroud, a frightening kind of silence. Wisps of smoke diffused languidly, weaving through the dimly lit living room, their tendrils ascending towards the oppressive silence that clung to the air. Paolo, his gaze obscured by the haze, exhaled, sending out more wisps of smoke, the cigarette dangling from his fingers like an extension of his brooding demeanor. A palpable tension lingered. Paolo, seated on his couch, stared lethally at his kneeling staff lined up before him.He stood up suddenly, putting out his cigarette on the ashtray by his side. He rubbed his moustache slowly and the room was caught up in tension.“I have looked all over”.. he said, pausing momentarily. He looked at his staff.“I have looked all over for my wife and my Godforsaken daughter! I have searched every inch of this town. No one has claimed to even as much as to have sighted any of them.”He walked back and forth, taking each step slowly. He held up a small disk ta
Sofia sat, legs crossed inwardly in the bed. She waited for the network to return, quite bored already of the rolling symbol. Sooner enough, the connection returned."Hey mamma"Her mother smiled slowly, a gesture that warmed her daughter's heart."Hey, Darling, how are you?""I'm fine. How are you feeling today? ""I'm ok. Getting better". Her mother's voice came out weak and hoarse but Sofia was grateful that she'd regained consciousness and could even say a few words now. Sofie managed to smile, fighting to hide her worried look.“So when are you coming to visit darling? Nobody really comes around since Vari left.”Sofia felt her heart break. Once again, she was neglecting her mother. Too focused on work. Too scared of the future. Like she couldn't risk it to slack for a moment. And now not only was she busy but her life was in potential danger."Aren't you supposed to be at work, dear?"Sofia scratched the back of her head softly."Well...""Is everything alright?""Of course mum
Luna poured the hot water over her custard mixture, carefully. She stirred it, holding her breath, praying that it thickened thickly. “Ahhh…”, Luna breathed out in relief. She added the milk from the jug and mixed it in the bowl evenly. Placing some cornetto by the side, she set up the plates. Her mother sat on the verandah, listening to the early chirping of the birds.Isabella had helped herself onto a normal chair in the morning which meant she was recovering fast. The pain on her side still hurt though, but it was healing fast and she didn't even feel the need to take the pain killers. Isabella closed her eyes, taking the beautiful natural scenery before her, the serenity of it all, the calmness it provided to her spirit. Not once, in her over ten years of marriage, had she experienced such rare tranquillity. She'd needed a therapist to give her only a temporary glimpse of this. It was a feeling she hardly ever dreamed of.The creaking sound of the opening of their front door
“He's not still dead?”“Of course he isn't. It would have been all over the news.”Finn rubbed his temples in frustration. Peter paced up and down the room. Andrea kept his calm, sipping the liquor. He cleared his throat to speak.“He’s only lucky. He has higher power here. He can play smart all he wants here, but one thing is certain. He will not partake of my inheritance”, Andrea said, “So how do we break his power? What do we need to defeat him?”“Relax, Peter. You are not the only one here seeking revenge”“What's wrong with wanting to get rid of him now?”Finn scoffed. “You are just broke”“What did you say?”“I said…”, Finn said, rising to his feet.“Gentlemen. Gentlemen. Leave the business to me. I, like Peter, want to get rid of the bastard too. But we must plan well. Meanwhile, I leave for Italy today. And I assure you gentlemen, a mission accomplished. I have it all under control”But Peter, proud as a peacock, wasn't quite content with Andrea handling it. After all, he'd
The curtains, adorned with a quiet elegance, hung in graceful folds, allowing a gentle cascade of sunlight to filter into Luna's bedroom. The luminous rays painted complimented her bedroom walls, their colour transforming into a dazzling spectacle as they absorbed and reflected the brightness. In contrast to the cheerful ambiance that enveloped the room, Luna's demeanour remained unchanged, an expressionless face on her. Luna sat in front of the mirror, a stark contrast to the vibrancy surrounding her. Her gaze, distant and cold, met the reflection that stared back at her, her face as pale as a ghost. Her eyes, once vibrant orbs, now bore the weight of deep, haunting circles that served as silent witnesses to countless sleepless nights. The circles etched beneath her eyes, circles that told stories of insomnia, a relentless companion that refused to grant her the solace of rest. She'd cried but her tears had lacked the tumultuous surge of emotion; instead, they traced a solitary pat
The frigid droplets of the shower cascaded down Asher's back, a chilling embrace that seemed to mirror the iciness creeping into his situation. With one hand pressed against the cool surface of the shower wall, he surrendered to the relentless downpour, allowing the water to weave through his hair and trace a delicate path down his spine.Things had only just gotten tougher and his life was in ultimate danger. Totally. Completely. He replayed the close encounter, the near miss that could have spelled the end. They'd tried to kill him today. Again. They had been this close to getting him and assuming he'd entered that plane… Boom! Mission accomplished. Today's attempt on his life had been more than a mere warning; it was a stark revelation of the lethal stakes now at play.He shook off the thought. He had to be careful now. He had literally entered the lion's den and he had only Garfy and his personal driver in Italy here. Asher rest assured himself that they were all he needed.In his
Asher smelt the parfait and shifted back immediately. There was definitely cinnamon.“How'd you know?”“I have similar allergies. I recognized there were small amounts of cinnamon in the bruschetta. I get strong nostalgia when I eat anything cinnamon and when I did, I stopped. But you had loads so I noticed the puffiness in your face. Do you have your injection?”“I think it's upstairs”, Asher said, but he was starting to feel dizzy. She shoved hers into his pocket.“Thanks”Asher stumbled to bathroom and brought out the injection. His eyes whirled, the place starting to get blurry. Sharply, he injected himself. He slumped to the bathroom floor, breathing heavily.“Where's Emilio, Luna?”, Maria asked, noticing she was alone.“He went upstairs”She smiled and went up the stairs in search of him. Luckily for her, his room door was open. She brought out the hidden knife from her boubou. She opened the bathroom door slowly but it was totally empty.“In search of something ma'am”, Garfy as
The hospital night guards patrolled the expansive compound, their powerful torches slicing through the thick darkness. With each deliberate step, they scanned the surroundings vigilantly, their eyes sweeping over every shadow, ever watchful for any potential threats lurking in the obscurity of the night. The beams of light cut through the inky blackness, sharply, making it hard for Sofia and the kidnapper guy to move.“You only move when I tell you to, got that?” "Ahumm", Sofia hummed in response, her fear palpable as she nodded in silent agreement, unwilling to risk provoking the mysterious kidnapper who wielded a cold, menacing metal weapon against her body. The glint of the sharp edge hovered threateningly at her side.The mysterious kidnapper maintained their grip, keeping Sofia on the edge. Both figures crouched by the side of the car, shrouded in the darkness. The air hung heavy with tension as they awaited the passage of time, their senses attuned to the night, the only compani