Game of Love - 17. Chapter 17: Will Giada and Jayden keep winning or will something else surprise them?

3 days later…

***

Adrianna had her hands on the driving wheel and her leg on the accelerator. Her head was moving to the rhythm of the song that was playing in the car, enjoying every moment of it. She got excited, moving her body while being careful to concentrate on driving as Charlie Puth’s ‘attention’ played.

She glanced to her side and found Javier staring at her with a smile on his face.

“Come on, Javier!” She laughed. “Can’t you feel the rhythm? Let’s dance to the song. Our fun hasn’t ended just yet.”

They were coming from shopping and they had fun doing it. They had bought a lot of clothes. It was the first time since the disappearance of Eric that she had gone out. She hadn’t wanted to go but Javier needed new clothes. Now she didn’t regret it.

“Javier, you must know the song, right?” She asked. “Sing along with me.”

Javier chuckled. “I know the song. I just don’t know how to sing.”

“Come on, you can’t be worse than me.” She slightly hit him. “I don’t know how to sing, but I always try my best. Come on, let’s sing.”

Javier smiled and then joined in as Adrianna sang the song. Both of them sounded angelic when they sang. Clearly, Javier was a great singer even with his Latino accent that it made Adrianna a little jealous. He sang the song with his heart. The whole car was filled with their voices.

Everything was going so well, and Adrianna was about to make a turn when out of the blue two black cars moved in front of her and stopped. Adrianna quickly hit her breaks, instantly stopping the car. It was such an intense moment for her. She glanced at Javier and before they knew it, about four masked men got out of the cars in front, rushing to her car.

“What?”

In just a flash, the doors to their car opened and both Javier and Adrianna were dragged out, blindfolded and their hands bound. They tried to scream but nothing was working. They were thrown in separate cars and they drove off like maniacs.

***

“Let me go!” Javier yelled, trying to pull his arms free, but the men that were holding were just too powerful. “Leave me alone. What do you want? I don’t have anything to offer you, I am not a rich man.”

He was thrown hard to the floor, and he hit his arm. Javier was inside an abandoned building that barely had light. He had no idea where he was, but the quietness immediately told him they were not anywhere near the city. The place was dusty, with lots of dirt and piles of wood.

He quickly raised his head to say something when he got the shock of his life. There was a man there that stood a distance from him. He was wearing a blood-red shirt that was half way done, showing his chest. He had a black designer’s trousers with black boots on his feet. His hair was tied in a high fashion ponytail, and he had a pistol in his hand that he was playing with. He dropped his gaze on Javier, and smiled like he had just had the best orgasm of his life.

“You?” Javier gasped, his eyes widening. “You did this? Why?”

Trevor chuckled, blowing on his gun. “I hope you bid farewell to Kim, Adrianna and Sergio, because you won’t be able to leave this place alive.” He pointed his gun at Javier.

Javier’s heart began racing, and his head began spinning. Every muscle on his body craved relaxation as blood coursed miles of veins and a pulse sounded in his ears. He was scared. He slowly got up, trying to think of something but his mind couldn’t come up with anything.

“Where’s Adrianna?” He asked. Even in his Latino accent, he couldn’t hide his fear. “Where have you taken her? And why are you doing this?”

“Is that fear I sense in your voice, dear Javier?” He chirped, showing fake concern. “And where’s the boy that had so much confidence the other day, huh? Where’s the boy that slapped me so hard? I warned you, didn’t I? I told you to leave, but you wanted to be the hero. And now, you’ve met the monster you always wanted to see. Here I am.”

“I… I… is that the reason why you brought me here?” Javier stuttered. “I only did that because… because I got so mad. I am so sorry. Please, let me go.”

“That’s not happening.” Trevor furiously cocked his gun, his finger trembling on the trigger. He was filled with rage. “Funny thing is that you came out of nowhere, and then you tried to be a hero. You should have left when I gave you the chance to. But you started challenging me for the love for Sergio. Do you think anyone fighting for Sergio against me stands a chance?”

“What?” He shook his head. “I have never thought of Sergio in that way, I swear. I only accepted staying there because I have nowhere to go. Is that why you wanna kill me?” He placed his hands together. “I could never dream of doing anything with him. I swear to you. If you let me go, I’ll go far away and…”

“Silence!” He snapped, getting closer. “You think you’re so smart? Do you even know what Sergio, and I have been through? Do you know how long I have been waiting for a moment to be with him? And then you brought your silly Latino ass to him. Well…” He smirked. “…your silly little ass has brought you here, and there’s no escape.”

“Please…” He muttered.

“Unfortunately for you, I don’t have any more goodness left in me. I don’t even have feelings anymore.” He chuckled. “They disappeared the day that bitch Eric decided to steal him away from me.”

“I don’t plan that…”

“You’re so scared, pleading for your life.” He teased. “But, I can assure you that you’re not leaving from here. Anybody that tries to steal my man shall meet the same fate as Eric. And as for that slap, and the tears, I am here to pay you back.”

“Okay, I’ll admit I made a mistake. But… don’t do this.” He cried softly. Trevor could tell the boy was shitty scared. “What about Adrianna? She wasn’t involved. Let her go.”

“Adrianna is gonna be spared depending on the way Sergio treats me.” He moaned, drawing his lower lip between his teeth. “It’s a pity you have to die. You have a pretty face. But, enough with the talking. Let’s get on with the execution.”

Trevor pulled the trigger and the bullet spat out of his hand. It hit Javier in the chest, propelling him backward. A deafening scream was heard, but it only excited Trevor even more. He fired the gun again, this time continuously until the boy fell to the dirty floor with a thud, holding his chest while shaking like a leaf.

For a few seconds, he looked up at Trevor who was staring at him with nothing but wickedness on his face. He loved seeing Javier’s white shirt bloody. He loved seeing the blood flowing over his finger, and him struggling to breathe. He knew he had gotten rid of another enemy, and nothing was gonna make him lose.

Trevor chuckled, drawing closer to the boy that struggled to breathe.

“By the way, Javier, say hi to Eric and the devil for me.” He laughed. “It’s a pity both of you died by my hands. It’s not personal, but learn to stay in your lane in your next life.”

“y-you… won’t… get away with this.” Javier managed a word through his pain. “…you…”

“Shhh…” He whispered. “…In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve already gotten away with it. Eric’s death, my father’s death, and now your death. Anyone that tries to take Sergio away from me will suffer the same fate. Now, let’s end this. Goodbye!”

He pulled the trigger and shot Javier one last time. Before the bullet even took its impact, the boy was already dead. The satisfaction that came with Javier’s death was nothing like he had ever expected. Now it was time to claim his prize, Sergio, and this time, Sergio was gonna be his forever.

“Boss, should we get rid of the body?” The thugs asked.

“No! Leave him to rot here.” He said, handing the gun to the boss of the thugs. “We still have other businesses to attend to. I am pretty sure that the wild animals that visit the building at night will feast on him before daybreak.”

He looked at the corpse one more time before he turned, and cat-walked out of there. Good riddance.

***

Sergio entered his mansion looking smart, and sexy in a black, shiny designer’s suit that fit him like a second skin. He was wearing a white inside with a red necktie. His hair was combed to perfection and then gelled. He had a stern look on his face after having a long day at work.

Just as he entered, he saw his mother running towards him like a child. She looked worried, scared, and stressed. Sergio had no idea why she was looking that way. He frowned, rushing to her, and they met half-way.

“Sergio?” She cried, holding his hands tightly. They were shaking. “Sergio?”

“Mom?” He gasped, leading her to the couch. “What’s going on? Why are you looking that way?”

“Sergio, they’ve abducted Adrianna?” She cried at the top of her voice like a kid.

Sergio felt the darkness cover him like a blanket on top of the bed. His heart throbbed in fear as if he was standing against a dead coldness. He gripped his mother tightly, his eyes widening.

“What? Who abducted Adrianna? Who?” He asked but she couldn’t respond. She just cried. “Mom?” He shook her furiously. “What the hell are you telling me? Who abducted her and why?”

“Why are you asking her when you can just ask me?” A voice spoke.

Sergio froze and he stood perfectly still listening to the footsteps that were behind him. He quickly turned and found Jayden staring at him with a grim on his face. The man looked like he had won a lottery with his hands in his pockets.

When Sergio saw him, he felt like he had been possessed by an evil spirit. His limbs moved as if some inexperienced person was controlling them remotely and his eyes became wider. He gripped Jayden by the collar. He brought his fist to Jayden’s face, giving him a rough punch. In just a second, blood was coming out Jayden’s side of the mouth.

“Where’s Adrianna?” He roared.

Jayden burst into laughter, licking his blood. He was laughing manically, staring at Sergio, but all Sergio did was push him roughly, slamming his body onto the wall. But the man laughed even harder.

“What’s wrong, little brother?” He asked, still laughing. “Why do you look like that?”

“Where is she?” He barked, raising his fist. “If you don’t tell me where you took her, I’ll kill you right here.”

“Do that, and I can guarantee you’ll never see her again.” He said with a stern face, furiously pushing Sergio away. “Don’t think that you’re in a movie and you’ll always be the hero. This time, I have the ball in my court so I’ll call the shorts.”

“Jayden, please!” Kim pleaded, putting her hands together. “You can take me, but bring back my daughter. I beg you.” She cried.

“Tik Tok, tik tok…” Jayden teased as he got closer to Sergio, shaking his head. “… the time is ticking. But you know what, you can call me the time master because I’ve got all the time in the world. Do you like games, little brother?”

“I don’t have time for this,” Sergio said harshly, furiously dropping his hands. “Tell me where she is or…”

“Or what?” He challenged, breathing like he was in labor. “Do you think you’ve got power here, junior Alvarado?” He laughed. “But since you like playing games, let’s play a game of death.”

Sergio’s anger came like an impossible build-up steam, burning him on the way out. He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to kill the son of a bitch.

“I don’t have time for your silly games,” He gripped him furiously by the collar. “Tell me where she is or I’ll beat you up mercilessly.”

“You can do that, but you don’t have much time.” He chirped, releasing himself from the man’s grip. “This game will last only for a few minutes. Then after that, boom!” He made a dramatic expression with his hand. But to Sergio and Kim, it was more than that. From the wail Kim gave, it was pretty serious for them. “There will be no more Adrianna. She’ll join our father. May his soul rest in peace.” He made a cross, looking to the heavens.

Kim rushed to Sergio, holding his hands. “Please, don’t harm my daughter. I’ll…”

“Shut up!” Jayden snapped at her, making her quiet instantly. But the tears couldn’t stop flowing. “Your daughter will be alive, but it all depends on your son. As long as he agrees to my demands, she’ll be safely back here with us. We’ll celebrate and forget as if it never happened. But if he doesn’t, you’ll find her shreds lying on the floor.”

“Jayden, I beg you.” She knelt. “Adrianna is your sister, and…”

“You think I give two hoots about that.” He yelled at her, diverting his eyes to Sergio. “Sometimes, we need to go to extremes to get what we want.”

Sergio felt his strength leave him. “What do you want?” He asked softly.

Jayden grinned. “Now we’re going somewhere, lover boy! What I want is not much, but…”

“I’ll take it from here, Jayden.” Came a voice.

Sergio glanced in the direction of the voice and found Trevor walking towards him with a grin on his face. He was with Giada who looked like she was from a fashion show. Seeing them, he felt like someone had poured a bottle of anger on him.

“Hello, baby.” He threw air kisses at Sergio, but Sergio looked away. He felt disgusted. “I missed you too.”

“So, you’re also behind this?” He asked, shaking his head. “How could you, Trevor? I always thought you were despicable, and I have always prayed for you to change. But, guess I was wrong. There’s no hope for you,”

“Of course, there is.” He laughed, getting closer. “But we’re not here to talk about me, we’re here to save Adrianna. The question is, can you show her light in between the darkness that she is? Do you love her that much, Sergio?”

“Say what you want.” He said hoarsely.

“Good!” He chuckled.

He took some documents from Giada and sweetly handed them over to Sergio, smiling and winking at him as if he was expecting a kiss. Sergio took the documents slowly, wondering what was there. He glanced at Jayden but the man only smiled.

“What’s this?”

Trevor got closer, his smile brightening. “That my dear Sergio is what I need you to sign. Those are the power of attorney papers, and I want you to sign all of them. You’re transferring all your properties into Jayden’s name. He’ll be the owner of all Alvarado wealth.”

Sergio’s heart hammered in his chest, his eyes widening. “What? No way!” He threw the papers to the floor. “All these properties are what I have left reminding me of my father’s unconditional love. I vowed to him that I would protect his empire with my life. There’s no way I am transferring them to this crazy man.” He yelled, stamping his foot on the floor.

Trevor laughed, shaking his head. “I had a feeling you would say that. But….” He got closer, opening his tablet. “… I have something to show you.”

Sergio looked at the screen, and his heart stirred in his chest. He felt like something had died inside of him. His sister was tied to a chair, and she seemed to be in pain. She was crying, asking for help, and pleading with the kidnappers to let her go. But that wasn’t what scared him the most. There was a time bomb wrapped around her, and it was only showing 2 minutes before the explosion. There were gas cylinders and gasoline around the place too. Sergio started shaking, fighting off his tears. Never had he thought he’d see his sister in a situation like that?

He glanced at Trevor, and the man laughed. Trevor could see in Sergio’s eyes that the man was broken. He might have been a tough businessman, a proud man. Yet he stood for the first time with tears in his eyes. He bore the expression of a child who has been told his mother is gone.

“Please, Trevor, don’t do this.” He begged. “This is not you. You cannot do this to my sister. Have mercy on us.”

“Have mercy on us too, Sergio.” He gave mock puppy eyes. “We’re poor, we’re hungry and we need your money. It’s all up to you. If you want to save your sister, sign the bloody documents. Besides, it’s not like you’re gonna be poor. You’re just not gonna be the boss.”

“Trev…”

“Remember!” He raised the tablet and now the time was only showing 45 seconds. “Adrianna will die, and you’ll only have yourself to blame. The more you think about it, the less time you have. But… once you sign the papers, I’ll order the men to stop the bomb remotely. But…”

“Please…”

“Twenty seconds!” He announced. “19… 18… 17…. 16… 15… 14.”

“Okay!” Sergio said abruptly, picking up the papers. “I’ll sign them. Just…. Don’t kill my sister, please. I’ll give you whatever you want.”

An evil grin appeared on Trevor’s face. He quickly ordered his men to stop the bomb and Sergio felt relieved when he saw the timer suddenly stop. He quickly signed all the papers, handing them over to Trevor. Seeing that, Giada jumped like a child that had been given candy. Her mission was accomplished and she couldn’t wait to get her hands on everything. Her dreams had come true.

“There you are,” Sergio said harshly. “Now will you release my sister?”

“Not so fast.” Trevor shook his head. “There’s one more thing, Sergio.”

“What?” He sneered. “What else do you want? I have given you….”

“You!” Trevor added.

Sergio paused, his eyes widening as he stared at Trevor like he’d said something abominable. His heart began racing and he felt a shiver run down his spine. He opened his mouth to speak but was suddenly dumbfounded. He couldn’t even move or do anything.

“I want you to marry me, Sergio.”

“W-what?” He stuttered, shaking his head. “What are you talking about? I have given you the money so…”

“No deal!” He shook his head, crossing his arms on his chest. “The only way I will bring back Adrianna alive and unharmed is if you agree to marry me. Marry me Sergio and we’ll live…”

“Are you crazy?” He yelled. “Do you know what you’re asking me to do? And do you realize that I am a married man? Eric…”

“Don’t mention his name!” Trevor snapped, giving out a sharp breath. “And do I look like I care? All I care about is you. Besides, we’ll just finish what we left unfinished. You and I will walk down the aisle and Adrianna will be back.”

“No!” He said, clenching his teeth. “I love Eric unconditionally, and I won’t marry anyone else. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I do!” He chuckled like a villain from a Disney movie. “I understand you very well. It’s a pity Adrianna won’t understand why she had to die.” He started dialing a number but…

“Wait!” Sergio hollered, fighting his tears. In just a split second, he felt a shadow coming over him. His soul felt wafer-thin. His body trembled and chilled.

“Well?” He shrugged.

“I’ll… I’ll…” He closed his eyes because he knew what he was about to do was a betrayal. “I’ll marry you.”

Trevor felt the happiness soak right into his bones. He closed his eyes slightly, letting the feeling sweep over him like a cool breeze on top of a mountain. For the first time in forever, his mind felt relaxed and his heart leaped with joy.

“Why don’t you show a little love for me, Sergio?” He asked. “Prove to me that you want to marry me. Come closer.” It wasn’t a request, but an order. “Come closer and hold me the way you would hold someone that you love so much.”

Sergio was hesitant. He stood there like a statue, but Trevor grabbed his hand and pulled him closer. He wrapped an arm around him, grasping the back of his head. He pressed his body against Sergio’s and continued gazing within his eyes.

“Now, Sergio…” He moaned. “…you’re going to tell the press, and everyone that you’re going to marry me because you love me. You’ve realized that you were wrong in betraying me, and for that, our wedding will take place. Do that, and your sister will be back unharmed. I’ll bring back Adrianna to you as soon as we’re married.”

“But that’s not…”

“Shhh…” He blocked Sergio’s mouth with his finger. “…I know what I said, but I have to make sure that you fulfill your end of the bargain. And don’t try anything funny, otherwise…” He gestured.

Sergio swallowed his saliva which felt like poison. “I wouldn’t do that.”

“Good, I need you to prepare yourself for tomorrow.” He instructed. “We’re making an announcement of our wedding along with the transfer of your companies to your brother.”

“But why so soon and…”

“Because I have been waiting for this moment for a long time, Sergio.” He shrugged, chirping. “And also because I own you. From now on, wherever I go you go. Understood?”

Sergio nodded slightly, trying his best to be strong when he was very weak inside. Out of the blue, he leaned in and pulled Sergio’s head downwards, locking his lips with his. Sergio was in shock and disgusted. The man sucked on his lips like a hungry whore in front of everyone. When he was done, he rubbed on Sergio’s lips while licking his lips clean.

“I love you so much, Sergio. And I can’t wait to be yours forever.” He smiled, squeezing his hand. “My love, you’re gonna have to excuse me. I’ve got a lot of things that I have to do.”

He kissed him one last time and started cat walking out of there like a true model. He was on cloud 9 after kissing the love of his life after a long time. The next stop was gonna be sex, and he was gonna make sure he rides Sergio like a rodeo, giving him his best moment.

Jayden and Giada followed him, but not before staring at Sergio for a long time. He looked pitiful but they didn’t give two hoots about it. As soon as they left, Kim rose and just stared at him. There was a lot on his mind, and she could read the pain on his face. It was like his world had been crushed.

“Sergio?” She mourned, taking his hand. “I am so sorry. It’s my fault, my son. I… I brought this upon myself and…”

“Why are you blaming yourself?” He chuckled bitterly, feeling like someone had poured chili in his eyes. “You didn’t do anything to me. It was them, and besides, I’ll only be doing what you’ve always wanted, right? Aside from saving Adrianna’s life, I’ll marry the boy you’ve always wanted me to marry, mom. We’ll all be one big happy family.”

The guilt engulfed Kim like a huge flame on a piece of paper. It sat not on her chest but inside her brain. What she had done she could not un-do. She couldn’t make amends in subtle ways, but she couldn’t confess to him either for fear of losing him, and Adrianna. The guilt was like gasoline in her guts.

“Sergio…”

He screamed at the top of his lungs, slamming his fist into the wall. Kim tried to touch him, but he was already on his way upstairs like a rocket. Reaching his room, he banged the door behind him but he didn’t give a hoot. He stood closer to the mirror, raising his head. What he saw in there killed him. He stood there, breathing like he needed air.

He was in so much pain, his complexion was ashen. His natural golden skin had sunken in tone to something so lifeless it scared him to just look at himself.

“What are you doing here?” He asked harshly, clenching his fists. “What the hell do you want after you left me to suffer alone without you? Why the hell did you do this to me?”

Sergio was mad, mad at the reflection in the mirror. It was an image of Eric staring at him with tears in his eyes. God, he looked so damn beautiful that he just wanted to hold him. But his anger couldn’t allow him to do so.

“You left me when you claimed that you loved me.” He sneered, pointing his shaky finger. “You fucking gave me those vows when they didn’t even mean anything to you. What do you think of me, someone that has no feelings? This is your fault!” He stamped his foot on the floor. “It’s your fucking fault this is happening, and now I am marrying someone else. Get out of here!” He screamed. “I don’t ever wanna see your face. Get out!”

He took an ornament from the table and threw it at the glass, breaking it into pieces. And so the image of Eric disappeared, and he started panicking. He quickly rushed to where the glass had been, crying like a child.

“Please, don’t leave me.”

He dropped to the floor, pulling on his hair. He saw Eric’s picture on the floor and picked it up. It brought nothing but pain and tears to him,

‘I want to remember you, everything about you forever!’ He muttered, passing his hands on that beautiful face. ‘You gave me the most beautiful surprise that night, and then you disappeared from my life. I want to remember every strand of your hair, the feeling of your touch, and the beating of your heart.

I don’t want to ever close my eyes because I am afraid of losing you forever. I don’t ever want to give up hope because I know you’re alive somewhere, Eric. I have given you my heart, and soul already, only to you. I hope you’ll forgive me when you find out about this. I know nothing but to love you.’

He lay on the floor, crying softly while holding the picture close to his heart.

“I love you so much!”

***

A bang immediately woke Adrianna from her slumber and her eyes opened wide, trying to see what had made the noise. It was the sound of a chair, and Trevor was sexily sitting on it, smiling at her. She tried to move but she couldn’t. Her hands were still bound and the rope burned a bit.

“Good morning, princess?” Trevor greeted, smiling brightly at her. “How was your night, baby girl? Or should I say, sister-in-law?”

Adrianna felt her anger rising. “You are evil, Trevor.” She groaned, breathing like she was in labor. “What did I do to you that you had to tie me here? And where the hell did you take Javier?” She roared.

“Oh, you’re worried about that poor little boy?” He gasped in mock astonishment. “Oh, you must be very lonely being here alone. It wasn’t my intention, really. I would have let you go but…” He laughed, drawing his lower lip between his teeth. “… I had a date so…” He winked. “…you know,” He gave a low moan like a pornstar on set. “I couldn’t leave my boo to come to entertain you. I would have brought Javier here… but I am sure right now, wild animals should be feasting on his carcass.”

“What?” Adrianna gaped, tears welling in her eyes. “What are you talking about? Where did you take him?”

Trevor grinned evilly. “I took him on a date with the devil.”

Adrianna felt a warmth on her face, and she realized that a billion tears were going down her face.

“No!” She shook her head. “It can’t be, no! Tell me you’re joking. Javier cannot be dead. You’re lying.”

“You can believe whatever you want, sweetheart.” He rolled his eyes. “But he’s fucking dead. I looked straight into his eyes as I shot him in his heart. The poor little boy died for something he didn’t even know. The boy…”

“Stop it!” Adrianna cried, screaming at the top of her voice. “I am begging you.”

“Why?” Trevor rose from the chair, getting closer to her face. “Don’t you wanna know how he looked like while he died? Don’t you wanna know how he begged for his life?”

“No!” She closed her eyes, moving her head away. But Trevor gripped her jaw and she felt like he was burning it. He brought her face forward, forcing her to open her eyes. “Please…”

“He bled to death.” He said it nice and sweet. “He begged for his life. I enjoyed seeing him lose his life and…”

“You’re evil.”

“That, I am!” He nodded, applying pressure on his hand. “You cannot even begin to imagine what I have done.”

“Kill me!” She cried, furiously moving her head. But Trevor gripped her even tighter. “Why don’t you go ahead and murder me like you did to Javier? What are you waiting for?”

“Maybe I should!” He let her go and saw the bruises on her cheeks. “But I won’t do that, because you’re my ticket to happy ever after. You might be a whiny little bitch, but you’re still my ticket.”

Adrianna couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

“He’ll find me!” She mourned. “My brother will find me, and he’ll send you to hell. Sergio won’t stop looking for me, and I can assure you that he’ll find you. And when he does, I’ll make sure that I kill you. I promise you, I’ll kill you.”

“Never make a promise you can’t keep!” He chirped, rubbing seductively on his temple. “And speaking of Sergio, did I mention that we’re getting married?”

Adrianna stopped crying, and she stared at Trevor like he’d just grown another head. She was dumbfounded, and she felt like someone had blocked her airway.

“Don’t look so surprised.” He teased. “I would have given you an invitation, but you’ve got a date with my boys here. They’re telling me they love having you here. And meanwhile, Sergio and I will be enjoying ourselves. I’ll send the wedding cake, okay?”

“You’re lying!” She seethed. “Sergio would never marry a despicable man like you. He loves Eric unconditionally and…”

“Not if he wants to save you.” He said with a raised eyebrow. “You see, you have your way of getting things done and I have mine. Whatever I want, I always get and Sergio is no exception.”

He raised a card at her, a wedding invitation card of Sergio and Trevor.

Adrianna was broken now, shattered really, robbed early of the tape and glue necessary to put her soul back together. Her mind was like a lost man at sea, desperate and starving for some reason to live. Her heart was racing, pounding in her chest like it wanted to run away.

“No!” Streams of tears ran down her face. “Sergio would never do that no matter what. He loves Eric too much and…”

“But he loves more.” He said with a grin. “And as for Eric, he won’t ever find him because I have made sure of that. He can only dream of being with him and… very soon, I’ll drive him so far away that he won’t cross his mind.”

Adrianna sobbed, dropping his head.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be out of here soon, after our marriage.” He laughed at the top of his lungs. “We’ll be one big happy family. Oops!” He glanced at his watch. “I have a fiancé waiting for me. I am sure he must be missing me by now. Tata!”

He made a quick turn and began cat-walking out of there while laughing at the top of his lungs. But before he could go any further….

“Wait!” The desperation in her voice couldn’t be masked. “Trevor, please, wait!”

Trevor turned, resting his hand on his hip while jotting it. He had a big grin on his face.

“Please, I am begging you.” She sobbed softly. “Let me talk to my brother once. I just want to hear his voice, and assure him that I am okay.”

“Oh!” He gasped in mock astonishment, cupping his cheeks. “You miss your brother, huh? Unfortunately, he cannot speak to you because he’s busy preparing for our wedding. And you don’t have to worry about a thing, my men…” He paused and glanced at the four thugs in there. “…will make sure that you don’t miss the wedding. They’ll make sure you watch it comfortably right here, and you will feel like you’re there.”

He laughed when Adrianna cried, and then left laughing. Adrianna had never felt as bad as she did at that particular time. It was like all her fears came to haunt her. She wanted to do something, but in that situation, she couldn’t do a thing. She was helpless.

***

The room was beautifully decorated by the best events management company in the entire city. It was like a perfect magazine cover. Everything was white, from the sparkling chairs to the beautiful curtains that graced the walls of the room. There were beautiful flowers decorated everywhere, red, pink, and white roses. The room screamed class, money, and romance.

There were beautiful chairs all decorated in white, and round tables. Guests were seated, enjoying their drinks and food. Everyone there was either a celebrity, businessman or from a well-to-do family. They were all dressed to kill, all smelled nice and with smiles on their faces. There were people from the media that Giada had invited to witness her victory.

The security was being provided by Jayden’s men, all dressed in black with guns. He didn’t need that much security because he knew nothing was gonna go wrong. In front was a huge table with beautiful flowers, drinks, and food. Some of the most important guests like David were seated there.

And here was Eric’s family, his mother, his step-father, and his brother, Derrick. They had no idea what was going and they were all dressed beautifully though they didn’t look exactly happy. They had been invited by Sergio, and couldn’t deny him. Although they were kinda still mourning, they had come to honor their son-in-law’s invitation.

Kim was seated there, feeling like a shadow of herself. She was dressed like a queen, a blue designer's dress with blue high heels on her feet just like they had forced her to. Her hair was made into beautiful curls and her makeup was on point. She felt like an idiot because she knew all that she had done in her life had led all of them to that point. A lot of people might have been happy, but she was the only one that knew what the hell was going on.

Suddenly, everyone started cheering, clapping and the cameras started rolling. Giada and her crew had made it into the room, coming down the wonderfully decorated stairs like angels. Giada was dressed in a gorgeous sexy heady beaded sparkly side-slit long evening dress that showed off her curves, and her cleavage to the world. She had blue jeweled heels on her feet and her hair was made into a fishtail ponytail. She looked like a queen from a Disney movie with all kinds of pieces of jewelry sparkling on her.

Coiling her arm with hers was Jayden who equally looked like a king. He was wearing a beautiful pitch-black designer’s suit with a red shirt inside. His shoes were expensive black and white striped and his hair was combed to perfection, and then gelled. He was wearing a smile on his face, waving at the people that cheered for them.

They both came downstairs, posed for pictures, and then went and took their place in front where David and some important people were already seated. Kim couldn’t have been more annoyed. She had never seen anyone so evil her entire life. How could she not have known?

Suddenly, the entrance everyone hadn’t expected arrived. It was Sergio and Trevor. They were coming down the stairs slowly, smiling at the cameras that couldn’t stop taking their pictures and the people. They might have been caught in the light of the cameras that they didn’t even see that most people were no longer clapping. They were staring at them without any facial expressions.

The two guys had their arms coiled romantically, and Trevor was leaning a little on Sergio’s arm. The two guys stole the night. Trevor wore a very beautiful, expensive-looking pure white designer’s suit with a jacket that had a small train on it. He had beautiful pure white sparkly shoes and his hair was made into curls. He looked like a gorgeous groom in a fairytale, a gay fairytale.

Sergio on the other hand wore a gorgeous black suit that stuck on him like a second skin. His pitch-black shoes looked like they had been made by angels, and his gorgeous hair looked heavenly. He had a wonderful smile on his face, but Kim could tell it was all for show. She knew that he wasn’t happy. After all, he was about to lose everything.

The two guys posed for photos like two lovebirds with Trevor clinging to him seductively, which made most of the people wonder what was going on. Laurel was shocked and angry but she couldn’t do anything. She just watched as Giada mocked her pain.

After taking pics, they both took their seats at Jayden and Giada’s side. As the two of them sat, Giada got up and took the microphone, staring at the crowd like she was looking at gold. She knew they admired her.

“What’s up, beautiful people?” She hollered, getting cheers from the people in there. “I said, what’s up!”

She laughed in the microphone.

“I want to thank you all for coming.” Gratitude flowed through her as she began speaking. “You all know me. Some of you have worked with me… some of you are my friends, and all of you know me as the fashion queen of this city.”

They all clapped happily.

“Today is a very important day for me as a businesswoman and a mother.” She glanced at Trevor who threw her air kisses. “You’ve all witnessed how much I have worked to make sure that I run this city as a fashion queen.” She chuckled happily. “But today, I have very important news that I would like to share with you.

Just a few days back, we all witnessed the return of Mr. Alvarado’s first son, Mr. Jayden Alvarado.”

Jayden waved at the people, and they all clapped, cheering for him. Cameramen were busy capturing every moment, and those that couldn’t attend were able to watch live, just like Giada had ordered.

“And today, I have some very important news.” She laughed, turning to look at David who was smiling back. “Before that, I would love to thank Mr. Smith for giving me an opportunity of a lifetime. With that said, I am happy and glad to share with you all that I am the newest member of D&E, and Liberty powers company.”

As the people started cheering and whistling, joy sparkled in Giada’s heart that she almost collapsed. They all adored her like the queen that she was. It was her night, and nothing was gonna ruin it for her.

“Joining Liberty shoes has been one of my dreams, and today, it’s been fulfilled.” She added. “But it wouldn’t have been possible without Mr. Smith, and the entire management crew of those two companies. That’s why I am promising you right now, that I’ll take those two companies to the next level.”

Everyone was cheering again.

“It’s just sad that we lost one of the founders, an asset to the two companies.” She sighed, giving a fake sad face. “Mr. Eric Hernandez was an asset. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”

Laurel felt like someone had pinched her heart with a needle. She wanted to furiously stand, but her husband gripped her arm before she could. She looked super mad that Giada had brought her son into her nonsense.

Giada gave an evil grin as she looked at her. She didn’t care as long as she said what she wanted.

“Thank you so much and…” She paused and gestured to Jayden, who stood up and went by her side. They looked at each other with evil eyes. “… one important thing I would like to share with all you, and the entire world is that…” She paused and made eye contact with Kim. “... Mr. Sergio Alvarado will no longer be managing the Alvarado companies, and industries. He has decided to step down.”

“What?”

The people went crazy when they heard that. They stared at each other in shock, talking among themselves. Most of them were staring at Sergio, who for some reason kept his confidence, and just smiled with the man that clung to his arm. Everyone was probably wondering the same thing, ‘why did he step down?’

“Calm down,” Giada chuckled, getting the attention of everyone again. “Don’t worry, Mr. Alvarado is still with us and he’ll be working in those companies. He just won’t be managing them because he has decided to handover to his older brother, Mr. Jayden Alvarado. He’s going to be the president from now on, and as his partner, I’ll manage by his side.”

Giada expected everyone to be happy, cheering for her and smile, but none came. Instead, their mouths remained an uncharacteristic grim line. Almost robotically, they moved their hands and began clapping. But it was clear that none of them were happy with the news. But, it was something they were gonna get used to.

“Thank you so much.” Both waved. “And this is a promise both of you are making to you. We’ll serve all of you better than before because we’ve got plans.”

Although the people were clapping, it was clear they were not happy.

“And the most important announcement of all.” She hollered, laughing like a lunatic. “It makes me both happy and glad that as a mother, I get to see my son’s dreams and happiness come true. When Trevor was born, I was the happiest woman on earth. I watched him grow, I watched him mature into a handsome young man, and now…” She paused and smiled at him. “… I get to see him get married. Yes!” She laughed with tears of mirth in her eyes. “…you all heard right. My son is getting married to none other than Sergio Alvarado.”

Laurel turned to look at Sergio, but too slowly to be normal.

“What?” She rose from her chair, shaking her head. “What are…”

But her voice trailed slowly like her words were unwilling to take flight. There was sadness and pain in her eyes as she looked at Sergio. He looked back at her and felt the guilt hit him. If only she knew what he was going through. But just like that, she could say no more. She just stared at him without even blinking. Even Kim felt her pain. Damn, she felt the same way.

Trevor seductively held Sergio’s hand, and the both of them got up and walked slowly to where Giada was standing. She held both of them sweetly, kissing their cheeks. Trevor’s heart was racing while Sergio’s was shattered to pieces. He kept on staring at Laurel who couldn’t even sit. It was clear Eric’s family was hurt.

“As I was saying, Sergio and Trevor’s wedding will…”

But before she could finish her sentence, the lights in the whole room shut off and the whole place went dark. Darkness came like the thick velvet curtains in the theatre. Giada let her eyes wander around but she couldn’t see a thing. She could only hear voices from the people in the crowd, and she knew they were panicking.

“Hello!” Jayden hollered. “Security, what’s going on? Can you find out….”

But he didn’t finish his sentence when the lights suddenly went but dimmer than they were before. Before his mind could even process it, screams broke out from everyone in the room. He was caught by surprise, and he was shocked. As soon as the lights went back on, he got the shock of his life.

His men were on the floor, trembling in fear. Other men in black had pointed their riffles at his men, and also at him and his crew. He looked around to see if he could spot any of his men but they were all on the floor. He glanced at Giada and she was just as shocked.

Giada’s breaths turned from quiet and regular to panting. She stood close to her son who held on tightly to Sergio like his life depended on it. Everyone else was on the floor in fear.

“Who are you?” Jayden roared. “What do you want?”

Suddenly, there was a low explosion on the stairway that took everyone’s attention. Billowing smoke filled the entire stairway from the top and they couldn’t see anything. Out of the blue, people started hearing footsteps but couldn’t see who it was as the fog was thick. The footsteps echoed sharply throughout the room, sounding overly loud in Giada’s ears, as the booming heartbeat of a condemned prisoner.

Then suddenly, people began seeing a shadow in the smoke as whoever was coming neared the end of the staircase. Whoever was coming down those stairs was either large and heavily harmed or a gang leader that considers themselves untouchable, Giada thought as she tried to contain herself. She was scared but she was curious to see who walked so fearlessly.

As whoever was coming approached, the people began to see beautiful golden brown expensive-looking shoes. As he got nearer, they traced an expensive-looking blood-red skinny jean to the curvy waist, a black designer’s sparkly shirt, but they couldn’t see his face as he got out of the fog that had now become thin. He was wearing a gold mask that hid his face completely.

He was standing near Giada, and her crew but no one saw his face. All they saw was his beautiful rainbow long hair that was tied into a ponytail and his beautiful piercing blue eyes. He got everyone’s attention, and now they were wondering who he was.

“Who the fuck are you?” Jayden roared, breathing like he was out of air. “How dare you interrupt such an event? Do you have a death wish? Get out of here, and get your men out, otherwise, you have no idea who you’re messing with.”

But the man just stood there without doing anything.

“Didn’t you hear what I said?” He yelled. “Get the fuck out, right now!”

“Didn’t you hear him?” Giada yelled. “Get the fuck out, because we’re not gonna tell you again.”

And when the man still stood there, Giada got so mad that she rushed to him, gripped his mask, and pulled it off. When she did, an invisible hand clasped over her mouth, and an equally ghostly hypodermic of adrenaline pierced her heart, unloading in an instant. She felt her ribs heaving as if bound by ropes, straining to inflate her lungs. Her head was now a carousel of fears spinning out of control, each one pushing her mind into blackness. She wanted to run; she needed to freeze.

There was something about the way the boy looked at her that creeped her out as she took a few steps backward, bumping into someone behind her. Her head rolled with the impact, eyes glazed.

Her voice came out thin and full of fear.

“What, but, no, it can’t be, that’s… can’t be. You’re… dead.”

“Surprise!” The boy spoke, opening his arms widely.

There were loud voices as everyone now saw him, Eric. He was standing right there with a grin on his face, and everyone saw him. They all slowly rose, including Eric’s family that looked like they saw a ghost.

Trevor was breathing all wrong, beginning to gasp like there’s not enough oxygen in the air. He felt the panic begin like a cluster of spark plugs in his abdomen. As for Jayden, the tension grew in his face and limbs, his mind replaying the day they had buried Eric alive. Sergio on the other hand just stood like a statue.

“No!” Jayden gasped, pointing shakily at him. “You can’t be the one. You… you…”

“You killed me,” Eric asked with a raised eyebrow. “There’s a lot more to me than meets the eye. I am an iron rose, and I cannot be killed easily. Did you think burying me alive was gonna end me? Your big mistake was not leaving me in that burning car the day I had the accident.”

The thoughts were accelerating inside Giada’s head. She wanted them to slow so she could breathe but they wouldn’t. Her heart was hammering inside her chest as it belonged to a rabbit running for its skin.

“I told you I would be back, didn’t I?” He barked, clenching his fists. “And now it is game over for all of you. You’ve had your fun, and it’s time to end it.”

“No, you’re dead,” Giada screamed, shaking her head. “You can’t be here. I…”

“Did you make sure I was dead?” He chuckled, crossing his arms on his chest. “No! But let me tell you a little story…”

***

2 weeks ago…

*

Eric was trapped with no way out of the coffin, and his hands were tightly bound behind him. The men had finished burying him, and he was running out of air. He screamed at the top of his voice but realized that with each second, it became harder. He couldn’t escape his fate.

He tried as hard as he could to untie himself but he couldn’t do it. Luckily, he managed to bring his hands in front and managed to untie the rope with his teeth after trying for a long time. It was starting to get hot inside and he was running out of air. He tried everything possible to escape but he couldn’t.

He pushed his bare hands roughly against the rough surface of the coffin but it was all in vain. It just stood stubbornly in its place. A shudder ran through him. He was trapped, confined within the walls of the coffin. He felt claustrophobic.

Lack of breath was felt through his body, that feeling of tiredness and lethargy. For as his lungs worked to bring in the much-needed oxygen, even then he felt as if he was drowning in the air. The only way to feel better was to get fresh air but he couldn’t.

He realized he couldn’t do anything so he just cried. He turned on his stomach and started thinking of something. He felt sleepy, and he knew that death was gonna be knocking soon. But suddenly, Eric touched the side of the coffin where his head was and realized that there was some water slowly entering. He had to do something.

He clenched his fist as hard as he could and then thrust, hitting on the wall of the coffin. It hurt, and he winced but he didn’t wanna give up. He rained blows on the coffin wall, so much force in every blow. He could tell that he had begun bleeding but he didn’t stop.

Suddenly, with a fatal punch, the plank broke and the water and dump soil began flowing inside fast. Eric quickly used his hands to make a hole large enough and worked his way out. Lucky for him, the grave had been short and the water made things easy for him.

Eventually, when he got out, he realized that it was raining heavily. He was muddy, dirty, and powerless. He took a deep breath and it felt like something had gotten his entire energy. He was coughing profusely with each breath he took. He began crawling but it wasn’t helping him.

Then his vision blurred, everything became fuzzy and then he saw nothing. He felt his body drained away until finally, all was black.

***

Present-day…

*

“A poor couple found me there hours later, and they took me to their village.” He continued. “The impact from the accident and the shock made me pass out for over 24 hours. When I finally woke up, I found out about all the chaos you had caused. It’s a good thing they didn’t inform anyone because they were scared for my life. I stayed with them for over three days, healing from all the wounds you had inflicted on me.”

Giada’s eyes were widened at the story that Eric had told her. Everyone was getting nearer and the cameras were still rolling.

“Don’t look so shocked, Giada.” He teased, raising an eyebrow. “You played your game very well. I only played it better. But now, you’ve got to realize who rules and who follows. When it comes to games, I am a pro. You may have won the battle, but you’ve lost the war.”

“No!” Giada shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “You cannot be alive. You are dead, no!”

“How blind can you be?” He chirped. “I thought the great Giada was smarter and knew everything. I am back now and I am taking back everything. You’ve got to realize that black is out and gold is in. And just like gold, I am indestructible.”

He gave an evil grin before turning his attention to Trevor who was still holding on to Sergio’s arm.

“And if you don’t mind, I would like to have my husband back.”

Sergio didn’t need to be told twice. He furiously moved Trevor’s arm away, surprising him to the core. He slowly walked to Erick, stood in front of him, and then gripped his wait. Both of them smiled at each other before he pulled him in, claiming his mouth, hungry and intense. Trevor felt like death had started calling for him. Streams of tears ran down his face, and no matter what he did, they wouldn’t stop.

The kissing couple pulled away, smiling at each other.

“You’ve got no idea how much I have missed you.” Sergio moaned as a tear of joy rolled down his cheek. “I am glad you’re here.”

“You thought I wouldn’t be here?” Eric said softly, rubbing his husband’s tear. “I told you that you are mine, and always will be. Thanks for never giving up on me, and for following my plan even when I knew how hurt you were. I love you so much.”

Emotions came to Kim’s mind like the waves meeting the land. She cried softly as she watched her son holding his husband. Never once did she cry in front of so many people, but she did.

“What?” Trevor’s voice was barely above a whisper. “What are you… no! Sergio, you knew that he was alive?”

“Of course,” Sergio chuckled. “I found out that he was alive over a week ago.”

***

Sometime back…

*

“Why don’t you go ahead and pull the trigger?” Sergio yelled at the masked man on the hill. “Fucking kill me right now. After all, I have nothing to live for. My husband, my life is gone and isn’t coming back. You’ll do me a great favor by killing me. Just kill me!”

He dropped to the ground, his hands hitting on the solid ground. He didn’t care about the pain. He cried, not even the way he had cried when his father died. This one was very different, more intense and heartbreaking.

He cried at the top of his lungs. But, suddenly he felt arms wrapping around him slowly and lovingly. He quickly raised his head to get the shocking surprise of his life. He was dumbstruck, and he kept on staring at the boy in front of him like he’d grown another head. It was Eric, his Eric. He was right there with him, staring into his eyes lovingly while fighting his tears.

“Eri… Eric…” He sobbed uncontrollably, feeling like someone was pulling on his heart. “Am I dead?”

“No!” Eric shook his head, rubbing his husband’s face. “I am here, I came to see just like I promised. I am sorry that I had to scare you, my love.” He cupped Sergio’s face, kissing all over. “I am so sorry. I… I just had to be careful because it’s no longer safe.”

“I knew it!” He cried, kissing Eric’s lips severally. “I knew you were still alive. I knew that you would come back to me.”

He gripped him into a tight hug and the both of them cried like babies. They were emotional.

*

“What?” Sergio roared, clenching his fists. “I am gonna kill them all, I swear. I am gonna kill them for even touching you.”

Eric had just been from telling Sergio about what had happened to him, and now he was furious. He held Eric’s hand tightly, staring into his face. “It is time to end this, Eric! It is time to make sure that I send them to hell.”

“No!” Eric furiously released his hand. “I cannot come back home, not yet! It’s better if they think that I am dead, Sergio.”

“What?” Sergio was now mad at Eric. “What the fuck are you telling me? Are you afraid of Giada, and her crew now? If you’re afraid, I am not. I vowed to protect you and…”

“No, my love!” Eric pleaded, taking his husband’s hand. “That’s not it. You know I can take care of Giada, but it’s the other one I am worried about. He’s a very dangerous man, and won’t hesitate to harm anyone. He’s gotten hold of some of your properties, and that makes him very dangerous.”

“I don’t care. He tried to kill you, and…”

“I know that.” Eric sighed. “But I am here, aren’t I? This man is not only dangerous, but he’s been doing some shady business. He with Giada and Trevor makes them a very dangerous trio. And…” He paused and looked at his husband. “… he’s telling the truth. He is your father’s son, and that makes him your brother.”

“You think I care about that?”

“Please?” He put his hands together. “I’ve got a plan. I’ll find a way for you to hold at least 51% of all the shares. That will give you control of your companies again. To beat them, we need to play their game. Only this time, I’ll decide how it goes.”

“Eric, I can’t do that. Those motherfuckers need to be behind bars.”

“They will!” He reassured. “Just do this for me. I am alive, and as long as you’re with me, we’ll win this. Please?”

Sergio sighed, combing his hair with his fingers. “Alright, I will do it. But… what about mom? She’s been suffering a lot. At least, show yourself to her because she’s not taken the news of your death too well.”

“I will show myself to my mother.” He promised, smiling sheepishly. “But… there’s something important you need to know about your mother.”

“My mom?” He frowned. “What is it?”

Eric didn’t know how to start telling him because he knew that it was gonna hurt him.

***

Present-day…

*

The scene was quite unbelievable, shocking really. Kim’s mind was sent reeling, unable to comprehend or process the images that started forming in her mind. She looked away, then looked back to find Eric staring at her with pitiful eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she didn’t even bother rubbing them. Only God knows what the people were saying about her, worse, what her son thought of her. Now she knew why he cried the way he did that night he had come back home. It was because he found out the truth.

“I know the news was sudden, and it hurt Sergio.” He said softly. “But my husband had to find out one way or another. He’s known all this time, and has lived with the pain.”

He felt terrible and wanted to hug her. But before he could do anything, Jayden started laughing hysterically, clapping as he got near the boy. He had that evil look on his face that no one had seen before.

“And what do you think?” He shrugged. “That your coming here will change anything? That your little resurrection scares me? You have no idea what the hell you’re dealing with, little boy.” He barked, letting the fear shake off him. “I am Jayden Alvarado, and you’ve got no idea what I am capable of.”

“Of course,” Eric sighed, rubbing his temple while he smiled. “How could I forget the man that buried me alive? I never forgot your face, it’s not like it’s easy to forget that face. But we’re all in the same situation. You don’t know me either, so if I were you I would be very scared.”

As soon as he finished saying that, Giada burst into laughter like she was going insane. She laughed so hard that everyone thought she was going insane. Her fear came off together with that laughter. She walked confidently towards Eric and jotted her hip, crossing her arm.

“It’s amazing to see you, Eric. Your little resurrection is surprising, and I am quite impressed.” She clapped, chirping at him. “But you’re a little too late. It’s all over because you’ve lost everything. You’ve lost your husband, your wealth, and very soon your little power. Sergio knows exactly what I am talking about.” She glanced at him with an evil grin. “He’s got no choice but to marry my son, and the two of them will live happily ever after. So you see…” She gave mocking sympathy. “…it doesn’t matter if you’re dead or alive. It’s all over.”

Eric lost the smile on his face, staring at her with such anger that she laughed her lungs out. Even Trevor was now smiling because he knew Sergio was his.

“If I were you, I’d go back to being dead because no one needs you here.” She barked. “I would have offered poison but it’s better if you jump off a bridge.”

Eric looked mad. But then all of a sudden, he gave an evil grin to match Giada’s, but maybe even more. Then he snapped his finger, and one of his men handed him a document. He carefully opened it, glancing at Giada while he did. Then he got closer, raised it closer to her face, and just smiled.

As soon as Giada set her eyes on the document, the panic started as thin cellophane, something her fingers could pierce breathing holes in. She grabbed the document from him, her eyes widening. In another second, the panic was a deluge of ice water surrounding every limb, creeping higher until it passed her mouth and nose. That was when the attack became absolute, shutting down her body as fast as punching a biochemical reset button.

“B-b-but, that’s impossible!” Her sweat was dripping like water had been poured on her. “No!”

Her gang rushed to her and their panic was even worse, especially Jayden. They glared at Eric who was just grinning at them as he’d just won a lottery.

“This is bullshit!” Jayden ripped the document to shreds, sounding like a mad man. “This can’t be. It’s a lie because all the properties are mine. They belong to me. They are my father’s and Sergio transferred all of them to me…”

“That’s not what the documents say.” Eric shrugged. “How could Sergio have transferred the wealth to you when it doesn’t belong to him? All the Alvarado wealth belongs to me because my husband transferred everything into my name.” He barked. “I am the sole owner of every one of the Alvarado wealth!”

“That can’t be!” Giada muttered, shaking her head. “This boy is lying. Kim signed off her wealth to Jayden and…”

“Yes, she did, and for a short while, it belonged to him. You really should be careful what you sign.” He winked, chirping at them. “I knew how desperate you are and I could predict your next move. You see, when you signed off the partnership with Liberty shoes, you didn’t get in. But rather, Jayden signed off his wealth into my name.”

Jayden felt his strength completely leave him. He had lost it all, his wealth, his company, and now his influence.

“I knew you were gonna blackmail my husband so I had him transfer all the Alvarado wealth in my name. So…” He teased, winking at Giada. “… I’ve been running this game since the very first time. I’ve been so close to you and yet you didn’t even realize it. I warned Giada, but you didn’t listen.”

Giada turned, but too slowly to be normal. She glared at David and he just smiled, crossing his arms on his chest. She had been fooled, it was all a lie. She was looking busted and she needed to get out of there.

“Oh, come on, don’t look so shocked.” He teased, wearing his serious face. “I have a surprise for you to thank you for what you’ve done for me.”

He snapped his fingers and the whole place went dark. But suddenly, a screen projected on a huge wall getting everyone’s attention.

The video started playing, and it showed a very big warehouse and in there were contrabands, guns, illegal drugs and all sorts of things. There was another room were teenagers, both boys, and girls that were tied up and gagged, packed up like chickens. They looked really scared and most of them were crying.

The video jumped to what seemed like a trade at a harbor. Kids were being forced into a container that was on a ship. In that video was a man and a woman that turned to be Jayden and Giada shaking their hands with a dangerous-looking man that gave them a very big bag.

The video then jumped to a terrorist attack that had happened back in Bangkok in which several people were killed and a whole lot of money was stolen from a bank. The video showed terrorists coming out of the building and shooting civilians. Then it and showed off Eric smiling and dressed smartly in a white suit looking smart.

‘I know all of you are probably surprised to see me alive and unharmed.’ He spoke. ‘But I am alive, and I have very important news to tell you. All of us have seen the video and have seen the great evil that’s been happening in our city, right under our noses.

We all know the self-proclaimed city queen, Giada Sandoval, and Mr. Alvarado’s prodigal son. What you’ve seen here isn’t a lie, but the truth. These two have been involved in human trafficking, drug trafficking, and a whole lot of horrendous crimes.

All of us heard of the massacre that happened in Bangkok by a terrorist group, the red devils. Some of our friends and family members lost their lives on that horrible day. The red devils soon were caught, tried, and sentenced to death by shooting. We all thought that we’d never get to hear of them again.

But right now, in our city, a terrorist group has slowly been formed. This is being done by none other than Giada Sandoval, Trevor Sandoval, and unfortunately, one of the red dragon members escaped his sentence and is slowly trying to recreate that nightmare in our city. This is none other than, Jayden Alvarado.”

Jayden felt a hair move and he gulped. “Stop it!” He yelled. “Stop this nonsense.”

The video stopped and the lights were back on. Everyone in there was talking among themselves, staring at the trio like the devils that they were. Giada was being haunted by her past, and she didn’t know how to escape that.

“It’s all over for you three,” Laurel said harshly, moving furiously closer to Giada. “You all are gonna go away for a very long time, and that’s a promise. For all the pain, the insult, and the deaths you’re gonna pay. And Giada, I’ll make sure you rot behind bars.”

“You shall get what’s coming for you, Jayden.”

“No!” Jayden yelled, shaking his head. “I am not going anywhere. I cannot rot behind bars and…”

“I’ve already given the evidence to the police.” He shrugged. “They’ll be here any minute from now to take you to your new home.”

Trevor rushed to Sergio, gripping his arm. But the man furiously moved away from him. Trevor grabbed him and brought him closer.

“Tell him to stop this nonsense!” They were gazing at each other. “Don’t forget our deal earlier, Sergio. I still have your sister in my custody. If he manages to mess things up, I’ll order my men to kill her, and I am not joking. You’re gonna marry me and nothing will stop this wedding. Am I understood?” He said hoarsely.

“Wow, you don’t give up. Do you?” Eric chuckled. “I like your spirit, Trevor. I love it, but I am smarter than you. My husband will not marry you as long as I am alive. And in case you don’t understand, it’s all over.”

“It’s not!” Trevor barked, breathing like a labor man. “Sergio is mine and he’ll always belong to me. He knows exactly what’s going to happen once he disobeys me.”

Eric shook his head and just smiled. “Look over there!” He gestured.

Trevor rolled his eyes and looked in the direction where Eric was gesturing. The moment he did, he felt like someone had stabbed him in the chest. The truth hit him. Adrianna was coming inside and she was dressed beautifully in a red dress, staring at him like she wanted to kill him. She was with Steve who held her closer.

Adrianna’s presence alone hung like a threatening hail-cloud over the sprouting harvest of her peace of mind. Darkness washed over Trevor and his crew, sending another chill down their spine. They knew their chances of survival and escaping had become extremely slim.

Even as Kim cried like a baby when she saw her daughter and rushed to her, they just watched silently with tears in their eyes. Kim hugged her daughter tightly, kissing her all over the face and crying at the top of her lungs.

“No!” Jayden screamed.

He furiously grabbed a bottle from the table nearby and pointed it angrily at Eric, breathing harshly. He was ready to go down but he was gonna take Eric with him. Sergio tried to shield Eric but Eric couldn’t let him.

“No!” He barked, his mouth trembling in anger. “I will not let you do this to me. No! Not after everything that I’ve been through. This is supposed to be my happy ever after. You cannot just come out here and ruin it for me. I’ll kill you!”

Eric’s hands reached forward quickly and grabbed his hand, pulling him furiously. Before the man realized what was going on, he was heading for the floor. He fell with a thud, feeling the impact of the fall all over his body. Everyone gasped, holding their mouths. None of them had expected Eric to do that. Even Giada was beyond shocked. She had seen Jayden in action and he wasn’t that weak.

Burning rage hissed through Eric like deathly poison, screeching a demanded release in form of unwanted violence. Jayden was at his feet and he loved it.

“Don’t think that just because you were a member of a terrorist group makes me tremble.” He hissed, pointing angrily at him. “Now you’re at my feet and the last thing you wanna do is piss me off. I haven’t forgotten that you tried to hurt my family, you blackmailed my mother-in-law into poisoning me just to protect her son and her secret. And most importantly, I haven’t forgotten that you are the same man that tried to have my husband killed just a few days back. You kidnapped Adrianna and you…” He paused and angrily glared at Trevor. “…you didn’t even hesitate to pull a trigger on a young boy.”

He was so angry.

“You claim you love Sergio, and yet you didn’t even think twice about killing him.” He said harshly. “What kind of love is that? You were willing to kill someone that saved his life without second thoughts. But thank God…” He chuckled harshly. “…Thank God Javier wasn’t really real. That was just a character I portrayed to make sure my plans went smoothly.”

“What?” Giada muttered. “You… you were that boy?”

“The entire time!” He said, opening his arms as if welcoming her. “I had all of you fooled with just makeup and a Latino accent. When I learned about your plans to assassinate my husband, I knew I had to do something quickly. Everything that was happening was being controlled by me, and even when you planned that kidnapping, I knew about it so I was prepared and I faked my death, again. You were never gonna stop pestering my life and trying to hurt me just like you did ever since I was a kid. You tormented my life, and you made sure I suffered for mistakes I had no idea of.”

The tears on Jayden’s face came as if his pain had at last condensed into a deluge of rain. It was as if at last, his accumulated ocean of brine was trickling through. He raised his head and glared at Eric, slowly getting up.

“You talk about Giada tormenting your life, hurting you. What about me?” He angrily pointed at himself. “What about everything that I have gone through? Do you know how it felt losing my mother at such a young age? I suffered… I felt tormented and God knows I tried so many times to take my life, but God couldn’t even take me.”

He was crying while venting his anger.

“And it’s because of that woman!” He furiously pointed. Kim felt horrible as all eyes were now on her. She felt so damn guilty. “She destroyed a perfect family. She led to the death of a very good woman. I know my father crossed the boundaries of his relationship but my mother never answered back. Because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She suffered in silence for months all because of a homewrecker.”

Tears escaped his eyes, running away upon his cheeks, leaving his body as if they could not bear to witness yet another pain. The pain crushed him from the inside, leaving him incapable of anything.

“She robbed me of the life I could have had.” He wailed. “My father meant the world to my mother. He betrayed her and yet she was still willing to forgive him. He threw us out because of Kimberly, I almost died. She left me at an orphanage, not knowing that was the last time I was gonna see her. I waited and waited but she didn’t come back. No one was willing to adopt me.”

Eric felt something strong develop inside, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. It was pain. He could tell Jayden was in genuine pain and anguish from his cries. He remained standing there, trying to fight his tears.

“I was chased from the orphanage because no one wanted me. I met my father once and he treated me like trash.” He mourned, furiously rubbing his face. But it was soon wet. “I started roaming the streets, begging for money. No one wanted to help me, and even the ones that did took something in return.

Do you know how many times I got raped in the streets? Almost every night.” He barked, feeling like someone was trying to pull on his heart. “I wished for death but it wouldn’t come. I prayed so many times but even god abandoned me. He didn’t wanna help me. And all because of that woman.”

Guilt was eating and pestering Giada. A fire burned in her mind and throat. Remorse hit her like a sledgehammer. She could feel daggers aiming at her from within the crowd. She prayed for the ground to open and swallow her.

“You grew up in a similar situation, Eric, but mine was worse. I had to pray for the day to be longer because every night, the same men would return and rape me over and over again. I was only 11.” He was hyperventilating as he remembered the horrifying experience. “My hatred started growing like cancer every day. I hated that woman, I hated my father, and I hated everything to do with him.

I was lucky at the age of 13 when I met a man that took me as his own. He was a leader of a terrorist organization, and he introduced me to his line of business. I was a son he never had. He took me to Bangkok where I became his second in command a few years later. I had no choice. Anything was better than being raped and suffering.”

He got closer and stared Eric in the face. “So tell me, why should I spare that woman? Why I should I let everything go? Why should I let her live in peace when she ruined my life? MY father only had an affair because she seduced him. I am this way because of her.”

He looked at Eric like the fire in his eyes had been dowsed with ice water, making his eyes pale. Eric hadn’t seen that side of him, it unnerved him. He didn’t see a bitter man anymore, but a man that had been living in pain for a long time.

“If it was you, what would you have done in this situation?” He asked, shaking his head. “What would you do if you were in my shoes? Giada had tormented your life and you came back to ruin her. Now imagine what I passed through.”

Eric glanced at Kim who looked so broken and scared. For the first time, he couldn’t say anything. She was the reason why he was like that. He had only been a child when she took his innocence and turned him into the monster that he was. He wanted to say something but the gasps from the crowd got his attention. He quickly looked at Jayden and found him with a pistol that was pointed at Kimberly. He stood in shock, shaking his head.

Eric’s men pointed their guns at Jayden but Eric quickly raised his hand, telling them to stop. He wanted to talk him out of it.

Kim’s heartbeat was the only thing she could hear, as all of her senses sharpened, to show her that this was one of the moments when she was shitty scared. Her heartbeat in her chest.

“What are you doing?” Eric asked, staring right at him. “You need to stop this right now, Jayden. It’s all over, and if you pull that trigger you’re never getting out of here alive. The police will soon arrive and…”

“I don’t care!” He cocked the gun, slowly walking towards Kim. Kim felt like her insides were turning. She was beginning to sweat. “Either way, I am not getting out of here. Everyone now knows the truth about me, and whatever I do won’t make any difference. But whatever happens, I will not let her live. I will complete my revenge today, and I don’t care what happens to me afterward.”

“No!” Kim cried, rising to her knees. She put her hands together, pleading with him. “I… I… I am sorry.”

“Shut up!” He yelled. “Shut the fuck up! People like you don’t deserve to live. It’s funny.” He laughed. “I have just realized that all this time, I only lived for one purpose and that was your death. Last time it was me that was kneeling before you and this time it’s you. My, how the tables have turned.”

Sergio knew he was supposed to do something to protect his mother but he was dumbstruck. On one hand was someone that she had caused so much pain, had ruined his life. And on the other was a woman that he had called his mother all his life, but there was something so dark about her.

“Jayden, I know that you hate her so much, and you just wanna see her suffer,” Eric said abruptly as a tear went down his cheek. “Your life has been full of nothing, but pain. But is this the right way? I am aware of what’s been going on in your life, and I know that joining the gang was so hard for you?”

“You don’t understand anything?” He barked. “You don’t understand shit about my life. You’re only saying that because you wanna save her. If you understood me then you wouldn’t have done what you did to me.”

“I understand everything, and yes, I am trying to save her because there has been too much bloodshed already.” He said, his voice rising. “I did what I did because I wanted to save my family. I also wanted to save you from yourself. This isn’t the right way. You asked me about my step-mother. Yes, I wanted to make her suffer, I wished to kill her. But I didn’t. I found people that showed me so much, love.

I found a wonderful husband, a loving sister,” He chuckled and stared at Douglas. “I found a father I never had and a brother. I am happy because I have love now. Perhaps, that’s all that you need. Please…” He extended his hand, opening his palm. “…stop all this and just give up. I promise I’ll help you. All of us now understand, and we’ll shower you with all the love that you need.”

“No!” He couldn’t fight his tears. He was scared for the first time in his life, scared that someone had told him that. “That part of me died long ago along with my mother. I was lost mostly because I had lost a big part of me. I couldn’t get that big part and it has made me stone-cold.”

“Alright, I understand.” He spoke softly, staring into his teary eyes. “For the sake of you mother. Do it for her. I am sure that she wouldn’t want you messing your life or losing it. A mother is golden, and she wants what’s best for her child. A mother is someone willing to forgive her child even when astray. Life is better when you’re with your loved ones. I promise that you’ll get all the love you want. Just put the gun down, Jayden, please!”

The grief surged with every expelled breath, always reaching higher peaks, never sufficiently soothed by his long intake of the air in the room. Tears began to spill from his helpless eyes, running down his cheeks. He could feel something rising inside of him. And when Eric reached to him and touched his hand, he felt like someone had begun tending to his wounds. He was being gentle.

“Leave me!” He cried. “Please!”

“I wanna help you!” He said softly. “Please, let me help you.”

“And why would you wanna help me? I tried to have your husband killed.” He chuckled in his tears. “I have done so many horrible things. I… I…”

“Because I understand you, Jayden.” He smiled. “You don’t need to waste your life anymore because of someone that doesn’t probably deserve it. But to error is to human and to forgive is divine. Your mother gave her life just so that you could have a better one. Don’t deprive yourself of love. Please!”

He started getting closer, trying to get the gun from him.

“No!” Jayden cried at the top of his voice.

The next thing, Jayden pushed him out of the way furiously. Luckily, Sergio got him and held him tighter. Before he could even process what had happened, the gun went off with a reverberating bang and Kim’s deafening cry.

Eric quickly turned to find a shocker. Kim was lying on the floor in a pool of her own blood with a bullet hole on her chest. She was dead, staring at Jayden like she was haunting him. Everyone else was on the floor in fear, trembling for their lives.

Eric’s hands trembled and his eyes watered as he slowly and robotically moved his gaze to Jayden. But something was wrong, and it was anything but good. Jayden stood there with his gun pointed into the air, upwards. It was as if Eric’s mind was playing tricks on him.

He watched as Jayden stumbled back and stared down at the red blossoming at his abdomen before he fell to his knees in shock. He clutched at his bleeding wound, his gun clattering to the floor.

Eric’s breaths quickened as he looked at Kim once again, but she was alright. She was quivering on the floor but she was unharmed. That was when he realized that Jayden hadn’t shot at her, but he had shot into the air. And one of Eric’s men had taken quick action and shot him. He covered his mouth in shock, rushing to the man before he could fall to the floor.

He held him in his arms, and his hands became bloody.

“Oh my God!” He cried, trying to apply pressure on the wound. “Jayden, I am so sorry. I… I had… please, call an ambulance!” He yelled. “Call an ambulance, please!”

Giada could feel the sweat drench her skin, the throbbing of her own eyes, the ringing screams vibrating in her ears, and the thumping of her heart against her chest. Her fingers had curled into a fist, long nails digging into her palm. She knew our chances had become very slim because her ally had been shot. There was no escape and she knew she needed to think of something very quick.

“Please, call an ambulance!” He asked even as his clothes got covered in Jayden’s blood. “I… I…”

“Why?” Jayden’s voice was very low.

He felt breathless, that feeling of tiredness and lethargy. He could feel the wound draining his life force, and he knew it wasn’t gonna be long before death came calling.

“I… I’ve wronged you. I’ve tried to kill you… and… and your family. Why do you care so much?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I… I don’t…”

“You’ll be alright!” He sobbed, wrapping his arms around him. “Just hold on a little longer. They’ll be here.”

“I have done so many sins. Please, let me die!” He pleaded. “I can’t repent for it in my life. Just… let me die. This will be my punishment and penance.”

“No!”

Eric held him closer and just sobbed softly. He didn’t want him to die just like that. He deserved to live because what was done was an injustice. He could tell the man was losing blood quickly and there was nothing that he could do. He just prayed for the ambulance to arrive quickly.

“Enough!” A voice echoed throughout the room.

Eric slowly raised his head and was taken aback when he saw Giada with her arm around a waiter’s neck with her gun pointed at her head. Her fingers trembled on that trigger and she looked so fearless, but Eric just stared at her without saying anything. He felt so mad.

And on the other hand, Trevor had his arm around Sergio’s neck with his gun on his head. Both of them looked ready to shoot.

“You know what Eric?” She chuckled bitterly, giving an evil grin. “You’re too cunning for words. You seem to think you can defeat me just like that. But you seem to be also forgetting that I am Giada Sandoval, the iron lady of this city. I cannot be brought down so easily.”

Every time Giada opened her mouth, Eric got angry. Every word stung, only fuelling the fire that burned inside of him. He slowly began letting go of Jayden, his fists began to clench and his jaw rooted.

“Until when will you stop?” Laurel roared, shaking her head. “You don’t give up, do you? It’s all over and…”

“Shut up, whore!” She barked, her jaws shaking. “You’re the cause of all of this. If I were you, I wouldn’t be so joyous because Giada Sandoval is not going anywhere. I am the iron lady.”

“Stop all this nonsense!” Eric seethed, staring into her eyes. “Your game is all over. Your selfishness has destroyed all of us. Because of that, you killed the man you’ve always claimed to love. You killed my father!”

“Haha ha…” She laughed at the top of her lungs and then began chirping, showing a pitiful face. “That should be the foundation of telling you what I am capable of. If I was able to murder a man I have loved more than anything, think about what I would do to someone that I don’t give a fuck about.”

“Your stupid games are over?” Sergio said harshly, trying to free himself. But Trevor had a tight grip on him. “You’re not getting out of here alive. Eric, order your men to shoot them.”

“Go ahead, if you think one of your men will be able to kill me faster than I can put a bullet in your husband’s head,” Trevor shouted venomously. He was staring at Eric, smiling in satisfaction. “So what’s it gonna be, little brother? Should I put a fucking hole in his head?”

Eric remained quiet, his fists trembling in rage.

“I didn’t think so.” He laughed. “Now, my mother and I are gonna get the fuck out of here and no one will follow us. If any of you do, then I can assure you that you’ll lose your sweet-sweet husband.”

“Don’t worry about me!” Sergio groaned. “I will be just fine!”

“Shut up!” Trevor seethed. “Tell your men to drop their guns and move out of our way. Now!” He barked.

Eric gave Trevor a long angry look before he raised his hand. All his men dropped their guns to the floor and moved away. They went at a distance and lay on the floor. Fortunately, Giada’s men were bounded so they couldn’t move.

Giada gave a sinister laugh. “It’s a pity that even when you have the upper hand, you still can’t defeat me. Guess, what they say is true. When you’re smart, not even the strongest can defeat you. We had a fun time together, Eric. But it all has to come to an end. Don’t know when next we’ll see each other, but goodbye.”

They started dragging Sergio and the woman out of there forcefully while Eric watched without doing anything. God knows the amount of hatred that he had in his heart. He wanted to hurt Giada in the worst way possible. He watched as Giada and Trevor escaped from the building while laughing.

“Eric?” Laurel rushed to him with fear on her face. “They’ve abducted Sergio. What are we gonna do?”

Eric looked at his mother without any expression on his face. “Take care of Jayden, and make sure he survives, mommy.”

Laurel nodded, and carefully applied pressure on Jayden’s wound. The man was unconscious, but he was still alive. “And where are you going?”

He got up, clenching his fists. “I am going to finish this myself, mommy.” He said with a voice that Laurel couldn’t recognize. She had never heard him speak like that before. “I have had about enough of Giada to last me for a lifetime.”

“No!” Laurel shook her head. “Let the police handle this. Please, I cannot lose you again.”

“You won’t lose me this time, because I don’t plan on losing.”

He started heading out as fast as he could, cocking his gun. It was on!

***

Giada and Trevor reached the car park with their captives held closer to them. They had to be careful as they didn’t wanna get any surprises. Luckily, they hadn’t met any surprises on their way to the car park. Now all they needed was to go into hiding, probably get out of the country.

“We need to get out of here fast,” Giada said abruptly, hitting the woman she was holding on the shoulder. She cried out in pain. “If we delay any longer, then they’ll catch us. I am sure that the bitch has already called the police.”

“You think you’re gonna escape?” Sergio laughed, grinning at Giada. “Your game is over. There’s no escape for you. Just give yourselves and…”

“Shut up! In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve already won.” She laughed. “It’s only a matter of time before you finally realize it, and accept it. We cannot be defeated.”

“That’s what you think? But look around you, there’s no escape.”

“Oh really?” She looked at her son and her face got stern. “We cannot risk it by taking a car. We need a chopper. I’ll call my men, and they’ll be here as soon as possible. That way, nobody will ever find us.”

She took her phone and called one of her henchmen.

“The chopper will be here in five minutes.” She chuckled happily. “But we need to go to the site where it will land. We have got limited time. After it arrives, we’ll not need these two. We’ll get rid of them.”

“What?” Trevor gasped, shaking his head. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I am not leaving Sergio for anything. Do you understand? I am leaving with him.”

“Are you insane?” She snapped, shaking her head angrily. “Do you want us to get into more trouble? That man will only bring us trouble. If we take him, Eric will never stop hunting us, and it will only be a matter of time before he finds us. Our best chance…”

“I don’t care!” Trevor got so mad. He was acting insane. He even gripped harder onto Sergio. “I am not leaving the love of my life here. Sergio is the reason why I enjoyed this entire madness and if I can’t have him, then it will be for nothing.”

“Trev, do you understand what you’re saying?”

“I am not leaving him!” He seethed, clenching his teeth.

Then he did something even insane. He hit Sergio on the head with the butt of his gun, knocking him out of consciousness. He held him in his arms, watching as his mother’s face got blank. He could tell she was mad.

“What the hell do you think…”

But Giada didn’t even finish her sentence as Trevor pointed his gun at her, making her freeze where she stood. Her mouth suddenly dropped open and her eyes got wider. She felt like her heart stopped beating, a cold wind going right through her. Never had she in her wildest nightmare ever imagined her son would do that to her.

“Wh- what?” She stuttered, feeling anger building inside her like pressure in a volcano. “You dare point a gun at your mother?”

“I will not allow you to separate Sergio and me, mom.” He said with tears in his eyes. “Sergio is my life, and I love him so much. I cannot live without him.”

“Stop this nonsense!” She barked, stamping her foot on the floor. “We need to get out of here. I will only tell you this once, leave that man and let’s go.”

“No!” A tear rushed down his cheek and he didn’t even bother rubbing it. “Sergio is my love, my life. The both of us will be together till the end of time. We’ll get out of here and we’ll be happy together.”

Giada laughed manically. “And you think that man will ever love you. He won’t because…”

“Shut up!” Trevor gasped, shaking his head. “You don’t know anything about love, seeing that you’ve killed the only man you used to love. I will not let you make me unhappy like you, mom. I don’t need you as long as I have Sergio with me. I will be content and I won’t even need to see you.”

Giada’s mouth opened but she couldn’t speak. The pain inflicted on her by her son’s words was way beyond any pain she had ever felt. She had sacrificed everything for him and made sure he got everything. But now, he just showed her that she was nothing to him.

“I am sorry, but I choose Sergio.”

He dragged Sergio’s unconscious body to his car, carefully put him there, and then closed the door. He looked at his mother once more, got in the car, and drove like an insane man. Giada watched, still failing to refuse to believe that her son had done that to her.

She just stared wide-eyed, like the whole world was breaking apart around her… she didn't even shake… Just there, she was in total paralysis without realizing what was gonna happen after that. She always thought it was gonna be just her, and her son till the end of time. She fought the tears but they came flowing and that was when her pain awakened.

“Wow! Who could have guessed?”

The moment Giada heard Eric’s voice, she furiously turned with her hand raised and pressed on the trigger without a second thought. Her gun went off, making a horrible noise throughout the car park.

Eric quickly turned and hid behind a pillar, chuckling loudly. “If you wanna kill me, you’re gonna have to be faster than that, Giada.”

Giada rushed behind a pillar, breathing like the hounds of hell were after her. She began scanning the whole area and saw the stairs that led to the building top where her plane was gonna land. She knew she had to create a distraction and escape.

“Why don’t you come out?” She laughed, quickly dialing a message. “I promise I’ll make the death quicker, and less painful. You should have stayed dead.”

“And miss that look on your face?” He scoffed, chirping. “Not a chance, Giada. I never thought in my wildest dreams that you would be abandoned like this. I mean, your son has left and doesn’t give a hoot about you. I always thought it was gonna be the two of you till the end, but guess not all blood is thicker than water. Perhaps, he’s not even your son, maybe something you used only to ground your husband.”

There was a scream from deep within that forced its way from Giada’s mouth. It was as if her terrified soul had unleashed a demon. All she felt was anger, pain, and betrayal. But whatever Eric was telling her, she couldn’t afford to lose her focus. She needed to live.

She glanced at the pillar he was hiding and saw that she couldn’t see him anymore. Then she took a deep breath and started firing like a madwoman on the streets while she made her way to the staircase. Once there, she began running up as fast as she could.

Eric on the other hand glanced and saw her running upstairs. He picked up his pace and began running after her. No matter what, he couldn’t let her escape. He was gonna make her pay. He pulled the trigger and missed as he couldn’t get her view.

Senses sharpened with adrenaline, Giada held her breath, straining to hear with every ounce of her concentration. Her heart hammered in her chest so hard that she felt her strength leave her. And she could have sworn the bullet went right past her.

She took a glance behind and saw him making his way up, but not on the staircase she was. She ran as fast as she could and in no time, she reached the door upstairs and quickly went in there.

Eric on the other hand managed to reach the last staircase and he slowed down. He knew he had to be careful as Giada was harmed as well. He slowly approached the door and took a deep breath before he kicked it open, getting ready to fire.

But when he entered, he got the shock of his life. His hand was kicked hard, making him let go of the gun. It fell to the floor, a distance from him. Before he realized what was happening, Eric was kicked so hard in the face that he went flying to the floor with a thud. He groaned in pain, trying to breathe properly but it hurt.

He raised his face and saw about four muscular-looking men folding their sleeves with evil grins on their faces. About two of them had bats with them, and they were surrounding him. Eric struggled to his feet, rubbing the blood off the side of his mouth. He took a glance at his gun and heard one of the men laughing.

“You won’t have time to reach that, small boy.” He teased, clenching his fist. “I hope you’ve bid your family goodbye because I am sending you to your grave and this time it will be for good.”

With those words, he charged like an ancient warrior. He threw up his forearms like an offensive lineman blocking a defensive back, but Eric slipped to the side and grabbed the man’s wrist with so much power. He rolled his hand under the man’s wrist, drove the man’s arm over and back, and pulled him backward and down. The man slammed into the floor like a huge rock on concrete, giving a deafening cry.

Before a second even passed, Eric saw the other three men charging towards him. He jumped to his feet and quickly slapped his right palm down on the man that was closer to him, shattering his nose. As the man clutched his bleeding nose, Eric gave him a terrible kick that sent him flying to the wall. He hit his head and before he even reached the floor, he had already passed out.

He was about to turn when a sudden gush of pain jolted throughout his body. His stomach ached, his arms lost tension and his legs began to weaken and he dropped to the floor. Someone had kicked him in the stomach. Raising his head, he realized that the first man he had beaten was up and he was bloody on the head. He groaned angrily, rising when he saw the three men charging at him again.

One of the men with a bat charged with a mighty cry. Eric dodged to the side in one fluid motion. His enemy thrust his bat forward, but Eric blocked him. He slipped to the left, which threw him off enough and Eric got a handful of his hair. He pulled his head forward and broke his nose with his head, ignoring the painful cries.

Still holding the thug’s hair, Eric managed to mercilessly kick one of the two remaining men on the face, sending him flying to the floor. He got his other hand into the crotch of the man he was pulling the hair and put his shoulder into him, lifting him off the ground and slamming him onto the concrete floor. The man grunted, and went limp, lying on the floor with his mouth open.

As the other man was trying to get up, Eric smashed an elbow into the side of his skull, the soft spot high on the temple. He just gave a low groan before he passed out. Ouch!

Eric furiously turned, facing the man that looked at him in horror. He was only seconds away from peeing his pants.

He gave an evil grin and got closer. The man tried to kick him but before he did, Eric slapped him with his open left hand full across the face. It rocked him and he took a step back and then steadied himself, blinking his eyes and staring at Eric. His headache must have been a starburst. In just a second, Eric gave him a huge blow to his temple, literally smashing his head into the concrete. As the man tried to get up, Eric took a bat and hit him on the forehead two hard times. That was it.

He looked at all the four men who were lying lifeless on the floor and started heading for his gun. He took a deep breath and felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. But he couldn’t allow that to limit him. He needed to find Giada before she escaped.

As he was about to reach for his gun, he heard a gunshot echo deafeningly in the confines of the room. Eric covered his ears, trying to see where the shot had come from. It was Giada and she was holding a gun at him, walking towards him with a grin on her face. Eric took a deep breath, trying to be confident.

“Wow, impressive, Eric…” She said harshly. “…I might have underestimated you after all. Guess you can never send a man to do a woman’s job. But you know what, it’s all over because I have got the upper hand.”

“I am not afraid of you.” He hollered, chuckling loudly.

“Really? You think I am bluffing?” She fired her gun at him but she didn’t shoot him. “That was only a warning shot. I hate you so much and I am willing to kill you right here. I’ll kill you and then I’ll escape from here. Nobody will be pestering my life again.”

Eric glanced at Giada’s gun as she got closer. His heart was racing and he knew the woman wasn’t bluffing. He knew he had to act fast because she was gonna shoot him. He couldn’t show that he was scared.

“And finally, we get to end it.” She laughed manically, chirping at him. “Finally, I get to kill my greatest enemy, my final victory. I might have lost everything, but killing you will make me feel all better.”

“Is that how you killed my father?” He asked, studying her every move. “Did you make him feel all the pain before you finally killed him? Nothing you say will pain me so why don’t you go ahead and kill me? I don’t see any reason for you chit-chat!”

Steadying himself, he assessed her.

 

Everything about her posture, her demeanor, her very air, spoke volumes to him. She was going to pull the trigger. His time for playing the mouse was up. As he stood, frozen in place, his eyes moved slowly from the barrel of the gun to Giada’s eyes. His heartbeat again. He tilted his head slightly, shifting his focus to Giada’s mouth, just behind the barrel.

“He was the love of my life, and you’re the reason why I killed him.” She yelled, her finger trembling on the trigger. “I never meant to but he wanted to betray me. But I’ll avenge his death by sending you to hell.” She furiously rubbed her tears, staring at him with a smirk. “It was fun while it lasted. But now, it’s time to die!”

As Giada was about to pull the trigger, Eric’s thighs quickly flexed. He popped up. Hands moving quick. While quickly grabbing the gun with his left hand, he simultaneously struck Giada’s wrist with his right hand. Having loosened her grip, he twisted the gun and forced her to release it. By the time she realized what had happened, he was standing two feet away from her, and she staring down the barrel of the gun she was holding two seconds earlier.

She was in a complete shock of panic and fresh terror reared up within her. Adrenaline pumped in her body like fluid from an intravenous drip. She moved backward, trying to hide her trembling hands. Eric was staring at her with a stern look on his face, ready to put a bullet in her head.

She swung her fist to hit him but he grabbed her wrist, pinning her to the wall painfully. She was breathing like she was in labor, groaning in pain. His grip felt like someone was burning her hand with an eternal flame.

“Now the tables have turned.” His voice sounded different, full of hate and evil. “Your days of causing me and my family pain are over. You are gonna pay.”

Giada began laughing, trying to mask her pain and fear. “Is that what you think? I don’t think you’ve got the guts to kill me, little boy.”

“You don’t know shit about me anymore!” He put the gun at the back of her neck. “I don’t care about what’s right or wrong when it comes to you. It’s hopeless. I’ll only be doing the world a favor. Now, how do you want this to end? Should I hand you over to the police or…”

“What? You don’t have the guts to finish me yourself?” She laughed maniacally.

Then she did something he hadn’t expected, she twisted the hand he was holding and the arm got dislocated. The pain shot up her arm like fire. It exploded in her head with blinding whiteness. It made her dizzy. It made her reel. The pain was like needles that had been dipped in alcohol had been jammed through her skin, like her arm had been replaced with ice and electricity wired straight into her spine.

Eric was shocked and hadn’t expected that. Giada then landed an elbow to his gut, then another, and another. He gasped, heaving, and let go of the gun. She furiously turned, hitting him in the face with her fist.

As he dropped to the floor breathing like a fish out of water, Giada clutched her dislocated arm and started running out the door. She felt her life return to her when she saw her helicopter just outside and she ran like the hounds of hell were after her. Luckily, she safely entered and ordered her two men.

“Go! Go!” She yelled.

The helicopter started rising but when Giada took a glance outside, it was to find Eric running after her.

“Faster!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.

Before the helicopter could rise higher, Eric jumped in without second thought, landing a fist on Giada’s face. She tasted blood and gave a deafening cry for help. As she tried to get up, he threw his right fist out in a curved punch at her temple.

The pain was so intense, so all-consuming, that she no longer knew where he was… it was like white-hot knives were piercing every inch of her skin, her head was surely going to burst with pain; she was screaming more loudly than she’d ever screamed in her life.

Eric was insanely mad that he just wanted to finish her. He was about to grip her shirt when out of the blue, he felt powerful hands slid down to his throat that at once began to tighten. His eyes widened in surprise. He tried to pull away but the man behind pulled him closer, strangling his neck like a python on its prey.

No matter what he tried, the muscular man’s grip only tightened. There was no escape, there was no way out. He had to get away, he had to. As each second passed, slowly the panic grew as he tried to force his hands away. He had to breathe. The ache in his chest grew worse by the moment as he writhed under his grasp. He could feel his pulse drumming as if he were a frightened rabbit.

“Hahaha…” Giada chirped as she came in front of him, staring at his pitiful face. “Poor, poor little boy. I told you that you wouldn’t defeat me. And yet again, looks like I am gonna kill you.”

She laughed maniacally aloud as he choked and sputtered. As Eric’s lungs began to burn from lack of air he reached for the thug’s face and felt his nails connect with his flesh. But nothing was gonna happen.

He started searching for something, anything to rid himself of the terrible fate. But he saw Giada holding a penknife, staring at him like an evil queen from a fairytale. She raised the knife high in the air, gripping it as hard as she could.

“I am gonna enjoy this!”

With a scream, she charged at him. Eric’s eyes widened in fear but he quickly moved his right foot in a fast jab, sending it into Giada’s ribs with a satisfying crunch. She grunted and tried to hold on to something but unfortunately, the sudden movement from Eric upset her balance, and she went flying out the window with a loud cry.

Eric would have been happy he was saved from her, but he had bigger problems. He could feel himself losing his strength. His hands searched everywhere and when he got ahold of Giada’s penknife, he gripped it harder and struck the man in the neck.

He furiously let go of Eric and clutched his neck, his eyes widening. The attack was swift and sudden. The blade sliced into his left side and up into his neck. The hurt in his neck escalated from a dull throb to burning, glaring pain – faster than a lightning bolt. He gripped the knife, pulled out with violence. He gasped, his eyes bulging in disbelief. From his open mouth came gurgling, sputtering sounds. He wanted to cry out for help but he could get no volume.

Eric slowly raised his head as he struggled to breathe, staring at the man who was bloody from the neck down. The blood pounded in his ears. His heart thudded in his chest. Lack of breath was felt throughout his body, that feeling of tiredness and lethargy. As his lungs worked to bring in the much-needed oxygen, even then he felt as if he was drowning in the air. He felt like the man was still strangling him. He crawled backward, trying to get away from the man.

The man looked at him in agony, eyes red from the pain. With a spluttering gasp, he collapsed face down and lay still, as his life ebbed from him, and his senses faded. Before five seconds even passed, the man was gone.

Eric lay there, trying to catch his breath but each breath he took felt like it drew him closer to death. He didn’t know what to do, but it was over. But then suddenly, he heard a voice calling for help. He quickly raised his head, trying to see who was calling for help but it was only him and the pilot who he couldn’t even see.

He shook his head, trying to ignore it but heard it again. He slowly crawled to the window and got the greatest surprise of his life. Giada was holding on to the landing skid of the helicopter with her dear life. She looked really scared, and tears had already decorated her face.

“Help me!” She cried, pleading with him. “Please, I don’t know how much longer I can hold on. Help, help me, Eric, I am begging you.”

Eric felt pain like an icy wind choking the breath from his lungs and making a noose around his neck. Tears welled in his eyes as he slowly got up, staring at her with such hatred.

“Why should I help you?” He yelled. He couldn’t mask his hatred. “Why the hell should I help you after all that you’ve done? You had a chance to repent but you didn’t take it. So why shouldn’t I let you fall to your death?”

She took a glance down and she felt a shiver go down her spine. “Because I know you’re not a killer, Eric? You’re a very good boy and… and I promise that I’ll change. I cannot die like this, Eric.” She sobbed uncontrollably. “I will pay for my crimes, I’ll confess everything and I won’t bother you again.”

“After all the people you’ve killed?”

“I am ready to pay for it.” She said abruptly. “Please, I am slipping. I cannot hold on much longer.”

Eric frowned, clenching his fist. He slowly extended his hand to her, trying to reach her. Giada tried to hold his hand but before she did, she held on tighter to the landing skid, shaking her head. She was scared of falling.

“I can’t reach your hand.” She hollered. “You need to figure something fast, otherwise, I can’t hold on much longer.”

Eric had no idea why he was helping her or what was gonna happen. But he couldn’t allow her to die, as he was gonna be just as guilty for her death. He looked around the helicopter for something that he could use to help her.

“Alright, just hold on.” He reassured. He was weak but he needed to do something. “I will get closer.”

He quickly took a rope that was in there and held on tightly to it. Then he slowly extended his right leg onto the landing skid while his handheld on tightly to the rope in the helicopter.

Suddenly, Eric’s leg was swept off the landing skid and he went flying off the helicopter. His hands moved quickly as his heart missed a beat, holding on tightly to the landing skid with his dear life. He quickly looked at Giada to find an evil grin on her face. She had done that to try and kill him.

Giada laughed an evil grin brightening. “Did you think that…”

But she didn’t finish her sentence when her eyes widened in shock and her heart hammered in her chest. She gave a low groan as her entire body felt like it was covered in ice. She was shocked because Eric had a rope tied around him. A smile lit on his face, almost like an evil grin.

“B-b-but how…”

“Go to hell!” He seethed.

With those words, he angrily swung and kicked Giada under her ribs where the sternum ends. It paralyzed her diaphragm and she gasped and let go of the landing skid. As Giada fell from the helicopter, staring incredulously at the boy who had pushed her, her hands clamored wildly for non-existent handles, and her last thoughts were of defeat.

As she fell, the world seemed to be in slow motion. She must have known what was coming. She knew that she couldn’t prevent her death. She knew that it was the end and a single glimmering tear shimmered out of her eyes. She knew it was over.

Giada fell on a sharp pinnacle of a building, dying instantly on impact, a horrible death indeed. Eric watched in shock, color draining from his face. He became pale and he was weak. After so much struggle, he managed to find himself in the helicopter again. He had no idea what was gonna happen to him seeing that there was still one more man, the pilot that was probably gonna kill him.

His strength was fading faster each second. He had no more strength left.

Will he survive?

***

Rain lashed against the windshield of Trevor’s car, as he drove down a deserted, one-lane highway, going a little over the speed limit in his rush. He was happy that he was on the outskirts of town without anyone following him. He had Sergio with him and he didn’t care about anything else as long as he got to feel his love.

His wheels slipped a little on the wet slippery pavement, but he kept the car steady. Trevor peered through the front window trying to see what was ahead of him; it was pitch black outside, with not even one star in the night sky, and only the moon’s faint light and the small square orange lights lining the road to see by. Outside the front window, the rain was coming down in torrents, blurring Trevor’s vision even more. The windshield wipers whipped back and forth over the window, attempting to clear away the large droplets clinging to the glass – but it seemed they weren’t moving fast enough.

As he was driving, he heard a low groan and he quickly moved his eyes to find a beautiful scene of Sergio waking up, rubbing his head. He looked really cute, really peaceful and Trevor had never felt so happy seeing him. He smiled brightly and concentrated on his driving.

Sergio opened his eyes and the world was spinning and he wanted to vomit. His head pounded, sharp and heavy. His vision blurred for a second, and he couldn’t see anything, but he could tell he was in a moving vehicle. He closed his eyes, fighting off nausea. Trying, even through the pain, to remember how he could have arrived where he was. When he opened his eyes again, everything started making sense although he was weak. He saw Trevor driving and smiling at him from time to time.

“Hey, baby…” He greeted with a smile. “…how are you feeling?”

“W-what?” He stuttered, trying to get up but his strength failed him. “Where…”

“Don’t move, my love!” He said, rubbing on his face. “I am so sorry that I had to hit you, okay?” He held his ear with one hand. “I am truly sorry, but I had no choice. They were trying to separate us. I couldn’t allow that to happen.”

“Eric…” He winced, brows furrowed tightly with pain. “… Eric…”

“He’s not here, either.” He was so mad from the inside but still smiled. “It’s just the two of us. We’re gonna reach our destination where a plane waits to take us to a place where we’ll live our dreams without anyone disturbing us. You’re gonna forget about him and realize that I am the only one that loves you, baby.” He chuckled, biting his lip. “And we’re gonna have kids.”

“Eric!” Sergio moaned. “I want… Eric… my love…”

“Shut up!” He seethed, gripping the wheel harder. “Don’t mention that bitch’s name in here. You’re gonna have no choice but to love me. I’ll force you to love me even if I have to beat you until you lose your memory. And then I’ll feed you with lies.”

“No!”

Sergio had no idea where his strength came from. He furiously moved and gripped the driving wheel, trying to turn the car. But Trevor moved his hands quickly, hitting Sergio’s hands. He let go and dropped back on his seat.

However, Trevor realized that he had lost control of the car. He tried to veer right to bring it under control but the car began spinning uncontrollably, throwing him furiously forward but luckily, both of them had seatbelts. Trevor’s heart began racing in fear.

He slammed on his brakes and tried to turn the car but things only got worse. The sound of the car’s screeching brakes and tires skidding on the wet pavement shattered the immense silence that had once been there. Suddenly, as the car spun out of control, out of the blue, a huge blow hit the car and it went off the road and started flipping down the sloppy side, hitting the trees as it did.

Both men were thrown back and forth furiously and Trevor hit the dashboard severally. After what felt like hours, the car hit on a huge tree and the impact felt like an explosion from a bomb. Its front end crumpled with the force of impact thrusting two-foot of metal back into the car. The windshield imploded, showering the insides with deadly slivers of glass. Both the driving wheel and dashboard compacted into one mangled mess. The driver-side door and the rear-side passenger door were savagely torn free from their hinges and the front two wheels were sent spinning out into the night.

The metal of the car groaned like the final cry of some wounded beast and it shuddered once then fell slowly onto its side.

After that, all was silent for a while.

After what felt like hours, Sergio’s eyes slowly opened and he felt like someone was pounding on his head with a sledgehammer, his head hurt like hell and everything was spinning. The rhythm of blood throbbing his temple made everything worse. He had horrible pains all over his body, and he had a wound on his head. Half his face was covered in blood and there were tiny wounds almost his entire body due to the impact of the accident and the glass shards.

He knew he was lucky to be alive. The drop alone should have liquefied his insides, yet here he was still strapped firmly into the driver’s seat with nothing worse than cuts and scrapes to show from the fall. Sergio could smell smoke; an oily taste hung in the air.

He scrambled for the other side of the car but something pinned and held him back. His seat belt was still attached. Frantically he searched for the latch. He began to cough from the smoke inhalation, feeling like his insides were burning. He was losing his strength but knew he had to get out of there no matter the cost.

The shock of the fall gave way to almost paralyzing fear. To survive the fall only to be burnt alive was scary. He struggled with the seatbelt, trying all he could. But he was just too weak. Finally, after what felt like forever, the seat belt came undone and he dropped.

He moved his face and saw Trevor still strapped in his seat, hanging upside down. He was looking messy with blood all over his face and clothes. There were shards of glass in his face and Sergio couldn’t tell whether he was just unconscious or he was dead.

With a supreme effort, Sergio kicked himself out from his seat and into the back, coughing violently as he went. He started to feel weak and nauseous, he could feel his body beginning to slow. Dimly deep down inside he knew that he was losing consciousness, his brain was starved of oxygen and was in danger of passing out. If he did, he would die. He had no strength left. He lay on his back, and there he remained coughing and spluttering.

Suddenly, he saw Eric staring at him and he wasn’t in a good condition either. He looked weak and had blood on his head. He raised his hand at him, trying to hold him but couldn’t do it. He sobbed softly, letting the tears flow.

Back in the helicopter, Eric was having the same image as his husband.

“Eric, I love you so much!” He said softly. “Please, forgive me for this. I… I caused all this, my love. I… I caused all this pain we’ve been through. I… I just wish I could spend more time with you in this life.”

Eric smiled in his tears. “I also love you very much, Sergio. I thank you for all the times, and the love you’ve shown me. But we’ll be together even in the next life, my love. At least, we saved our loved ones from pain.”

“I truly love you, Eric!”

Sergio was running out of time. He was staring at Eric as the both of them lost consciousness. With a final ‘I love you,’ both their eyes closed and they lost contact with the world.

Could this be the end?

***

18 months later

*

The walls are old stones from the quarry and the floor is too, everything is hard and cold. The stench is unbearable and the noise from either arguments or fights was inevitable. It was a cold and dark place, just wish it was something better. But then it was a prison and nothing was meant to be easy or sweet. But it was difficult to take in the harsh reality that this was now your home.

And here he was, a man in the wheelchair, literally dragging it and wearing an ugly orange uniform that he didn’t like. He had a cup on his thighs as he drove his wheelchair, staring at where he was going though he was disconnected from reality. He could hear some group of inmates teasing him, but he didn’t care about that.

Suddenly, he felt himself bumping into something and he quickly raised his head to find a muscular man with a hand on his wheelchair. This was the man that had been making his life miserable and unpleasant since his arrival.

“Good morning, princess?”

“Get out of my way?” He said harshly, grating his teeth. “I don’t want your trouble and you don’t want mine either. If you don’t let me pass, I’ll make sure that you suffer.”

“Wow, and if I don’t want to? What will you do?” The man probed him, hissing at him. “In case you haven’t noticed, this isn’t your mother’s house or one of your companies. Oops!” He gasped in mock astonishment. “You lost all that, and your bitchy mother isn’t here to comfort you.”

Trevor sat there, tears prickling his eyes, pale hands trembling with fear and sadness. Throughout his entire life, he had never felt the kind of pain he did at that time. He had lost everything, his love for Sergio, Sergio himself, his mother, his wealth, his friends, and his beauty. He had a lot of scars on his face from the glasses and the burns. He had his hair tied in a dirty ponytail but still didn’t look beautiful.

“I said get out of way, you ugly idiot!” He yelled, trying to go away but the man still held on to the wheelchair. “Hey,” He called to his friends. “His highness, King Trevor wants a good morning greeting. Let’s give it to him.”

A crowd of prisoners jeered at Trevor as the muscular man loitered around him whilst he helplessly looked around. He was in trouble and didn’t know how to get out of it. He felt someone poking at his head and he cried uncontrollably.

“Get up from there and fight me.” The muscular man yelled while he poked his head. “You think you have the nerve. Go on, show us what you’ve got.” They all laughed. “Go on, we’re waiting.”

Before he could react, someone gave him a hot slap that sent him flying to the floor with a thud. His pain came like a sudden squall out at sea. He tried to reach for his wheelchair but it was pushed far away from him.

He began crawling backward, away from them but they had surrounded him.

“Leave me alone,” He said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Please, you’re hurting me.”

He tried to move away using his hands but he couldn’t. The impact from the accident had injured his legs so badly that they had amputated them. He was now a helpless cripple with nothing to leave for. Death had run away from him.

“Please!”

“Not so tough, huh? Do you need your mommy?”

Trevor cried as the men surrounded him and began singing a song to mock him and his condition, just like every day. That had become his daily life and he had no idea when it was gonna end or if it was gonna end.

*

Good fortune comes, but it can also vanish in just a snap of a finger. Life shouldn’t be taken for granted, no matter what we have because it can all be taken away. The way we live our lives determines our future, whether true happiness or doom. Trevor chose the latter, a life full of misery and pain. His obsession for Sergio had brought him here, selfishness and evil. He lived a life he now regretted but it was too late. He had lost everything. These are the lives some people live.

And then others decide to change for the better, to embrace a new life, a new ray of light. Like my mother used to say when I was young, riches, wealth, fortunes, and sometimes revenge are not always what matters in life. But faith, love, and family.

These are true treasures of the world, the real treasures of life. As long as you have these, even if your fate continues to turn for better or worse, and the world turns upside down you’ll never go astray. These are the true values to carry out in life.

*

“Alvarado!” The officer called loudly, making Jayden stop what he was doing and turn. “You’ve got a visitor!”

Jayden smiled when he heard that, his heart racing with excitement. He put down his tools and rubbed his head on his orange uniform, taking a deep breath. He could already see that some of the inmates were smiling at him, happy for him.

“You’re a very lucky man, Jayden!” One of them spoke. “Only God knows how many visits you receive in a day. Makes me wonder if you ever feel like you’re even in prison.”

He shook his head, chuckling softly. He went into the visitors’ room and just stood there in awe when he saw his visitor but with lots of things on the table. There were clothes, food, drinks, shoes and many more. He couldn’t even understand why he got all those things after all that he had done.

He began staring at the person that had come to see him, an angel. He was the most beautiful person Jayden had set his eyes on. He wore a beautiful pink designer’s shirt that was tucked in a black skinny jeans with white sneakers on his feet. He had Raven Black Hair with Gray Highlights with the smile of an angel.

Before Jayden knew it, sweet arms wrapped around him tightly and he felt a warmth that he couldn’t explain. He let the happiness soak right into his bones. He wanted the feeling to still be there when he was old. He closed his eyes and savored the moment. For the first time in forever his body and mind relaxed.

“Why do you always do this?” He asked, pulling away from the hug. “I don’t think I deserve this.”

“Come on, silly,” Eric chuckled, sitting back on the chair. “You want me to abandon my brother? Not a chance.”

“But…”

“I won’t hear anything.” He shook his head, crossing his arms. “And by the way, the warden tells me that you’ve been very good. You do your work without questions, you help your fellow inmates and you follow the rules. You do not involve yourself in fights. You’re the best inmate he’s ever had.”

He chuckled softly, checking the things on the table. “Just doing my best.”

“And it’s impressive!” He laughed, playfully hitting the man on the shoulder. “I knew this was gonna happen. Before you know it, you’ll be out of here.”

Hearing those words, he lost the smile on his face and took a harsh breath. “To be honest, I don’t think I wanna get out of here. I don’t deserve to ever come out. I deserve to rot in hereafter…”

“And who says you will?” Eric was stern now. “We’re waiting for you back home, Jayden. You’re a part of our family and nothing will change our love for you. Do you understand? You’re a good person. What you did isn’t easy, forgiving all of us and letting go. You forgave mother even though it was the hardest thing to do for you.”

He shook his head, fighting his tears. He wasn’t used to that.

“And by the way, I received a letter from her this morning.”

“Really?” Eric was excited. “Tell me what she wrote.”

“Well, it was quite interesting. She…”

And when the two began talking, they weren’t enemies but very good friends. So much had changed the past few months and Eric was happy. Jayden was a changed man, and though he was paying for his crimes, he took it like a man.

*

And then there are those people that realize that what they did was wrong and try to repent for it by doing good in return. Whatever did we do in the past always comes back to haunt us? Kim had learned that severely and she had realized that she ruined the life of a young boy. She knew that her conscience was still haunting her to this very day.

But learning from our past and doing good always helps.

‘Dear mother, I would love to thank you for everything that you’ve done for us, most especially for the love that you showered my husband. Never for once did you make him feel like he was illegitimate. You showered him with unconditional love and he’s the man he is today because of you. I am most grateful because you made him grow into a perfect man that I now love.

I just wish you were back here with us so our family would be complete. We all miss you so much and just want you with us. I know you said you didn’t leave because of your hatred for me or because you felt that we didn’t need you anymore, but that you had to attain for your sins. You promised to visit but I want you permanently here. We all want you.

I know we talk every day on phone but I felt I need to write this to you. You’re a very good woman. Please come back. Love you so much!’

Kim held the letter close to her heart, taking in the cool breeze from the ocean. She was seated on the beach, enjoying the view from the ocean. She had a smile on her face, letting the wind run on her perfect skin.

Kim had left the country because she couldn’t stand all the guilt. She wanted to help out orphans and widows the best way she could so that she could repay for her sins although she knew they were gonna haunt her forever. She has now owned a big foundation that was doing well. The kids and the women loved her. She always told her story to encourage someone and discourage anyone that was planning on doing what she did.

“Hey!”

Kim felt arms wrapping around her from behind before she felt soft, tender lips on her temple. She dropped her neck, moaning softly. Her whole body began vibrating from pleasure and she chuckled. The man came in front of her and pressed his lips on her, kissing her tenderly.

“What are you doing here?” David asked, taking her hand in his.

“I was reading a letter from Eric.” She was wearing the biggest smile. “He also sent some pictures and gifts for us.”

“Wow, so sweet of him.” He smiled. “I miss that boy.”

“Me too!” She muttered. “Me too!”

The two stayed on the beach enjoying each other’s company. Kim had finally found true peace helping children and widows. And in the process had found a man that truly loved and drove her insane. David on the other hand had finally found the love he deserved, a woman that loved him unconditionally and made him happy. He was no longer lonely and he thanked Eric for all his help.

***

A beautiful black car parked in front of the entrance and Eric gracefully got out, smiling at his home. There was a feeling of connection, a feeling of belonging, and a feeling of peace. It was a new home, a home he had purchased with his husband. It was beautiful, it was white and it was welcome. The mansion was a two-story building with everything that they needed.

He began walking inside with a smile on his face.

*

The steps we had to take in life became very challenging. But with each step, and every problem we tried to overcome them. They say family is not about blood, but who is willing to hold your hands when you need it the most. Two mothers had given life to us and though we may not share blood, we have plenty of love and affection because they both did what they could for the both of us.

And though I have been in pain most of my life, I am also grateful to the two fathers that I got in my life. First to my father, though I never got the chance to say it to him, he did give me life. And it’s because of him that I was born. And secondly to my new father became my new pillar of strength, who has shown me that blood does not matter, but the love and peace that you have when you’re with each other.

*

“Babe!”

Eric glanced towards the direction of the voice and saw his husband rushing to him with a brilliant smile on his face, his gorgeous hair gelled to perfection. He looked so sexy in a pitch-black designer’s suit with a white shirt inside and black shoes on his feet. His emotions came flowing and before he even had any reaction, his head was clasped and then brought closer.

Maybe time stopped when his lips met Eric’s, but the flutter only intensified. Eric’s heart pounded in his chest as his knees got weaker. He could only focus on how soft he felt against his mouth, how addictively he invaded all his senses.

A voice was heard but that didn’t stop them. His thumb was throbbing at the hollow of Eric’s neck, rubbing up and down, pulsing warmth as his tongue conquered the depths of his mouth, hungry, consuming, pulling Eric into the warmth of him as if he mastered the balance of gravity.

“Someone wants us to stop!” He moaned, biting on his husband’s lips.

Sergio’s half-closed eyes were now wide open. “But I don’t wanna stop.”

Eric laughed, licking on his husband’s lips sensually. Sergio couldn’t suppress his moan. Fuck, he was horny.

“It’s no longer about just you and me, Mr. Sergio Alvarado.”

He shook his head and leaned down, kissing the head of his son. God, it felt so good and he smelt amazing. The baby noticed him and Eric watched as a little smile appeared on his cute face. Weakness swept over him and tears began forming in his eyes.

They had decided to have a baby as soon as they had healed and everything had gone back to normal. They remember finding themselves in the hospital closer to each other and saying, ‘let’s have a baby.’ They had found a surrogate mother and now we're happy fathers. The baby was only 8 months old but was the cutest thing ever.

Eric remembered the first time he had seen his son. He stood there in amazement. A tingle surged throughout his whole body. It was a rush of excitement he had never felt before in his life. When his eyes had hit his angelic little body, they froze and he couldn't think or acknowledge anything else around him. The world seemed to stop, hold its place in time, just for that perfect moment.

“Hey, you’re crying again.” Sergio laughed, rubbing his tears. “This bundle of joy is ours. He ain’t going nowhere.” He pulled on Eric’s waist, bringing his lips closer again. “And now you’re not going anywhere, my dear husband. I have you all to myself.”

His fingers traced slowly down Eric’s spine, his breath coming more quickly against his skin. Eric’s hands were limp on his chest, and he felt lightheaded again. He tilted his head slowly and touched his cool lips to Eric’s for the second time, very carefully, parting them slightly.

“Hello!”

Both of them quickly pulled away from each other and stood still, staring at Laurel who was looking so beautiful in a red gown with red heels on her feet. Her hair was perfect and her makeup was on point. She looked so serious.

“What did I say, Mr. Alvarado?” She said sternly. “Go and check if Eric is back. I didn’t say go and kiss him.”

“Well… mother, I….”

She laughed when she saw how shy he was. “Come on, Sergio. You know I am only joking with you.”

They all laughed. She was holding a beautiful baby girl with her, Eric, and Sergio’s second child. They had twins, Ivy and Javier. Eric rushed to his mother, kissed her, and got the child from her. He held her tightly and she smiled. Parenthood wasn’t something that he had dreamt could be so amazing but it was.

“come on,” She gestured. “Everyone’s waiting.”

Eric and Sergio followed her. They came to a beautifully decorated room where everyone else was, dressed beautifully. Adrianna was very happy with her new fiancé, Steve, the man that had shown her so much love. Derrick was now in a relationship with the man he had met online but had been chatting with him for years without meeting. They had finally met and turns out he was a very good friend of Eric from years back. Laurel and Darren were happy parents to two grown-up boys and a beautiful baby girl.

“Hey, finally!” Everyone greeted.

They all took their positions and the photographer began taking pictures of them, a happy family. Sergio held his son while Eric held their daughter. Although it was a picture and they were supposed to smile and look at the camera, Sergio couldn’t help but admire his husband. God, he was a perfect man. He made him so happy.

Just a few years ago, both of us were just messy teens who did nothing but play. But now, we’re new fathers who are starting our new lives. These are new journeys for us as new fathers and husbands. Sergio and I have reached our dreams. We’re very happy.

Finally, after a while, the photographer was done. Eric gave his daughter to Adrianna and they all kissed her beautiful cheeks while she smiled. Sergio watched his groom, feeling the need to kiss, to make love to him. A few hours had felt like days to him and he couldn’t hold it anymore.

“Can you hold him for a second?” Sergio said as he handed his son to Derrick and started heading for Eric.

Eric saw his husband coming and he laughed and started running outside. Sergio took off his jacket, threw it on the floor, and began running after him while everyone laughed in excitement.

“Go get him, man!” Steve cheered and made everyone laugh more.

Eric ran as fast as he could but Sergio was faster. He reached him, wrapped his arms around him, and gave him a beautiful kiss. He lifted him bridal style and then did something crazy. He jumped into the pool and the both of them were now wet.

“What are you doing?” Eric laughed.

Sergio pulled on Eric’s waist, bringing his body closer. “I need to spice up this moment. Ever thought of doing it in the pool?”

“You’re crazy.” Eric laughed as his arms coiled around his husband. “But a good kind of crazy. And I love you so much.”

His mouth was once again on Eric’s, and he stopped breathing. Sergio shuddered and there was a sound from the back of his throat, half growl, half moan. Little shivers of pleasure and panic shot through Eric as Sergio deepened the kiss, parting his lips. I stopped thinking and he closed the tiny space between them, pressing against him, digging his fingers into his husband’s hair. It was soft, silky. Nothing else about him felt that way. He sparked alive, his heart swelled to the point of near bursting. The rush of sensations crawling across his body was maddening. Scary. Thrilling.

His hands were on Eric’s waist, pulling him closer like he wanted them to be one. It was a wonderful moment to behold forever. None wanted to let go.

*

From the moment we were born, everything has already been destined for us, our names, our status in life, and even our future. But sometimes, fate plays tricks on us. It will challenge what we believed is our destiny. And most of the time, love is its weapon and in all these trials, nothing is ever easy. Someone always gets hurt, and sometimes, someone dies.

But there’s only one thing I am certain of, nothing is sweeter than a fate that you have won and fought for.

My name is Eric and this is my story. For now, it’s goodbye but we’ll meet again in another place and another time. Until then, I love you all…

***

The end…