Blurb Charlotte River is a police officer working on the murder case of Dominic Eden, the ex ceo of a billion dollar tech company named ZERO. This case is a very peculiar one and things don't add up. Do they ever? But even she isn't ready for the outcome of her probing as she employs all the tools in her disposition to ensure that she solves the mystery. A heartrending story of betrayal, greed, love and an office affair. The story delves into the human nature that we all share, the good and the bad and it is sure to leave it's readers intrigued.
CHAPTER 1
THE MAN IN MASK
~ MABEL POV ~
Elvis held me by my waist and lifted me up before putting me on the manghomy table. His hands slid under my tight skirt which had already risen on my thighs and he gently slid his fingers under my thong. A soft and low moan escaped my mouth as Elvis kept up with his pleasurable torture on my body.
"Stop it!" I let out a gasp as his finger gently slid into my wet folds.
"Someone might walk in on us!" I muttered trying to stop him but my body was saying otherwise, I didn't want him to stop.
"Shush!..." he whispered and he stared at me, the pleasure I saw in his eyes made me shiver which also made my stomach flutter with butterflies.
"No one is going to see us, I have waited so long for the day to be over so I can worship this body of yours" He muttered, placing kisses on my lips and neck.
"Now, let me show you how bad I have daydreamed about you" He lifted me up from the table and pinned me to the wall while he stripped my clothes off roughly.
I felt a rush of pleasure surge through me at the way he casually took off my blouse then my skirt and slowly my panties.
"Elvis". I cried out in pleasure. I heard footsteps but I ignored it. Someone might have left something in their office or I might just be hearing things, I was too engrossed in passion to be bothered about that.
I felt Elvis stiffened and the aura he was giving wasn't a good one. I decided to turn to see what had made him this way.
I gradually turned my head and I gasped. Right in front of us was a masked man pointing a gun at Elvis and I or rather at Elvis.
My heart leaps into my throat and my palms become sweaty at the sight of the gun pointed at us.
"Elvis..." before I could get the statement out of my mouth, Elvis had fallen to the ground and blood sprouted out of his chest. The man had shot Elvis.
Screams of fright escaped from my lips as I stared at Elvis' now lifeless body.
I couldn't help the terror that went through me as I began crying. My heart was hammering against my chest both in fear and in pain.
"No!" I screamed out. I gave a loud cry as everything finally processed in my head.
"Elvis...No!" I wailed in pain as I shook his lifeless body.
I feel my throat closing up and tears welled up in my eyes.
The masked man pointed the gun at me, I couldn't control the tears that were already pouring down like a rainfall as I stared at him.
"Fucking keep your mouth shut bitch!". The bloody son of a bitch in a mask yelled but I couldn't control myself as I cried more, I didn't even listen to him even when he yelled at me.
Elvis is dead and I am carrying his child. I had intended to break the news to him tonight. We were supposed to have dinner at his place.
I closed my eyes tightly as the tears kept on pouring.
A buzzing sound erupted in the cold silence. For a moment I stopped breathing as I contemplated on what to do.
I made my decision as I tried to pick up the phone and tell whoever it is what was going on.
"I swear if you take another step I'm going to blow your brains out and I mean it" the cold menace in his tone halted me.
My body betrayed me and I quickly ran ahead to get the phone before he could do anything to me. I stretched out my hand to grab the phone and I felt his strong grips on my hands.
He wrapped his hands on my neck, slowly draining the life out of me.
He dealt me a blow to my face; the force from the blow impacts sent me crashing against the floor.
Tears rolled down from my eyes due to the pains and I laid on the floor trying to breathe in some air.
What I thought was over became the beginning as I saw his shadow towering down on me from where I laid.
Soon, his hands were yet again clapping around my neck for a strangle. I flung my hands hoping to hold on to something as I felt myself choking due to lack of air.
I finally caught a hold of his hair as I tried to take his hands off my neck. I guess luck was on my side as I took off his mask in the process of struggling to get his hands off my neck.
"Shit!, shit!, shit!" he muttered as he tried to cover back his face but the deed was already done.
"Fuck!" I yelled as he kicked me on my stomach and I cried out when I caught a glance of his face.
He pulled me by the hair as he raised me to my feet. The deadly look on his face sent me crawling to the wall.
"Bitch!" he said as he landed a slap on my face again and I screamed.
"Please! I beg you, I didn't mean to do it, I won't say a thing, I promise" I began to beg as more slap rained on my face.
"Shut up!" he pointed a gun at me and I shut my mouth instantly.
"Please don't kill me! I beg you, I am carrying his child" I pleaded, hoping he would change his mind about killing me.
I could sense the war going on in his head and I decided to take advantage of his lapse at that moment.
"I would never say a word about this night, I promise, not a word to any soul" I pleaded.
"Open your eyes" he commanded, giving me a mean glare which caused a shiver to run down my spine.
"Please!" I said with a quivering lips.
"Now! I am going to spare your life" he said, still pointing the gun at me.
"Thank you! Thank you for sparing my life" I said, relief washing through me.
"But on one condition" he said and my stomach plummeted.
"If you do want to live for the sake of your baby then listen to me and do exactly as I say". He said and I nodded quickly.
"Speak up". He yelled not being satisfied with just nodding.
"Yes, yes, I will, I will do as you say" I quickly stuttered.
He nodded his head, closing his eyes like he was thinking of something then he opened his eyes.
"You will get rid of the blood stains, make sure you leave no traces!"
He then walked towards me with his gun and then squatted He pointed the gun at me and curved his mouth into a wicked grin.
He whispered into my ears, "remember any funny business I will blow your brains out, do you understand me?" he gritted out.
I raised my head up and nodded in response.
"I said, do you understand me!?" He snapped at me.
I responded with a nod again, he narrowed his eyes at me. I instantly knew he wasn't satisfied with a nod as an answer.
He grabbed me by the hair and dug his nails into my skin.
My eyes were hurting from being sore from the amount of tears I had shed.
"Yes, I understand you" I said through sobs.
"Get to work" he snarled.
I quickly walked to the door and he followed me as I limped out.
He held the gun at my back. I could feel excruciating pains as I walked but I didn't stop as I got to work immediately.
I cleaned the floor and made sure there was no trail of evidence even though I was tempted to leave something that could lead to his arrest.
"I only spared your life so you could do my dirty work in return" he said and I felt tears gather in my eyes again.
"In case you decide to betray me, I will take you down with me, this right here would be what would take you down with me" he said and I felt the blood drain out of my face at what he was holding.
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"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.