35

Linda's POV

I find it hard to believe what I'm seeing right now, he can't be here. Luke stares at me with an intensity like never before, almost like he's holding himself back from doing something crazy. I keep on staring right at him wondering if I'm having one of my crazy dreams again. I have this need to pinch myself but it feels like I can't even move, shocked beyond belief.

I drag a shaky breathe in because all of a sudden I feel like crying. But then I remember how hurt I felt when I found out that I'd been fooled by Luke and his friends. He doesn't deserve my tears. I believe I've shed way too much on him.

All the anger I had felt then and which still refuses to go away anytime I remember the mistake I had made by considering them my friends seems to overcome me. Now there is no need to shed any tears just the need to make someone bleed and feel the pain I had felt.

I take one step forward but a hand holds me back.

" now is not the time for this. " I hear Esperanza's voice saying right next to me. " The guards are headed away and any minute now they will spot us. "

I try to calm myself down and then take a couple of seconds to think through what she said.

She is right. I and Luke have scores to settle and we can't do that with the guards hovering over us.

" come with me. " I tell her and Leah.

We walk as fast as we can trying to be inconspicuous. We head straight for the four boys and as soon as we get to them I place my hands in Luke's and I can see the shock in his eyes.

This feeling is so familiar. The tingles I felt whenever we were close are still there and I all of a sudden I can feel my eyes getting heavy with unshed tears but I hold them back refusing to let even one drop.

I lead everyone away from there and at that moment the guards spot us and we all find ourselves sprinting away.

I guess we were not so inconspicuous after all.

It reminds me of the time we all spent in the building before we became aware of the secret hanging over our heads.

I have never wished for one moment to be real but that.

We finally lose the guards and find ourselves in a deserted alley filled with debris. The smell is terrible but then beggars can't be choosers.

I let go of Luke already missing the feeling of his hand in mine.

He looks at his hand looking a bit sad but the slap I send to his face makes him look at me with immediate effect.

I hope he sees the anger in my eyes.

" Linda I'm... "

" what are you doing here? I believe I told you I never wanted to see you again. " I cut him off trying to keep my cool.

" I had to meet you to explain. " he says looking sorry.

I refuse to bring myself to feel sorry for him.

" explain what? That you lied to me and took my friendship for granted or worse as a means to take revenge. I must been so easy to you. " I say scoffing and looking at him, disgusted with myself.

" I'm so sorry. I know it was stupid of me. What I did was immature and completely stupid. I don't even know what to say. " he says looking so broken.

" I don't want you to say anything I just want you to disappear out of my life. " I tell him coldly.

" I understand but I can't lose you just like that. I need to explain. Maybe if I can just do that you'll find a place in your heart to forgive me. " he says desperately.

" you don't seem to get what I'm trying to tell you do you? I don't...want to forgive you. "

" Linda... "

" Miss Isabella! " I hear Bruno's voice call out and in the next moment we're surrounded by even more guards than the amount that had taken us out. I can count eight in total.

They all point guns at the boys and I feel scared wondering what is going to happen to them.

I am mad at them but I don't want them to lose their lives!

" what do you think you're doing?! " I yell at Bruno. " tell your people to put down their guns. " I say desperately. My heart beating faster than normal.

" I can't do that. They kidnapped you. " he says calmly. " they might belong to the Salvadore family.

" they don't! I know them. We go to school together. And they didn't kidnap me. " I tell him getting more scared by the minute.

I can even feel the blood rushing to my head.

He hesitates.

" tell your men to put down their guns. " I say trying to be calm.

He looks at me then at his men. " put down your guns... "

I breathe a little easier.

" …and seize them. " he finishes.

I turn to look at him shocked. " I thought I already cleared up this little misunderstanding. "

" When we get back to the house we'll find out if what you said is true. " he says without any expression.

" But..."

" Don Alonso is asking for you. "

" I'm not speaking to him until you let them go. " there's no telling what Nikon will do to them. I still have memories of the cries of his victims ringing in my head.

" you don't seem to understand one thing princess. When Don Alonso asks for you you have no choice... "

" what?! "

" I hate repeating myself. So if you don't mind. Go into the car. "

" Linda listen just listen to him. " Leah says to me quietly.

I still hesitate feeling angry and scared.

" Linda. " Esperanza says trying to be the voice of reason.

I look at him and I swear I can see a smirk in his eyes, my anger spikes up even more and I can't help but say to his face. " bite me. "

" you just had to do that. " Leah says.

" I was scared I would have to do this the hard way. " he says looking amused. " place her in the car. "

Before I can utter a word, two guards manhandle me and place me in the car.

The anger I feel goes through the roof and I find myself screaming like a banshee.

***

" you bastards! How dare you?! My father will sue you for this! " I yell at them as they pull me out of the car.

I manage to scratch one of the guards holding me and kick the other. Then run away from them towards the boys who are being brought out of the car.

I have to find away to help them escape. Alonso is a monster. He made my childhood a living hell. I can't let him harm the boys unnecessarily but before I can get to them, I am tackled to the ground.

I start screaming like crazy until a cloth is placed on my nose and I inhale a choking smell that makes my head dizzy and my vision hazy. In the next second I can barely hear anything around me and before I know it, the world goes dark.

***

I wake up to silence and try to recollect where I am the room seems different from mine. I can hear the distant sound of cars horning.

I sit up a bit confused, wondering if I may be recollecting my past. But then I remember that I am actually in New York at the Alonso's. Each time I wake up in this room. I feel so confused and disoriented. I can't seem to get used to being here.

I seem to be forgetting something. I look at the standing mirror in front of me, only to find my hair disheveled. I wrack my brain trying to remember what happened and it finally pays off after a few minutes.

Luke and his stupid friends!

Shit!

I run out of the room and through the different corridors. I check Esperanza and Leah's rooms and they're not in there.

I hope they're all okay.

I'm about passing by the kitchen when I catch a glimpse of Esperanza bracing herself against the counter while Leah seems to be in shock.

I walk up straight to them fearing the worst.

" what's going on? " I ask them, startling them.

Leah walks to me with tears in her eyes. " they're hurting them. "

I knew this would happen.

" where are they? " I ask hoping this time I'll be able to actually do something instead of acting like a senseless child.

I was definitely too rash in the decisions I took earlier. If I had listened to Esperanza and Leah maybe this could have been averted.

" I sort of followed the men who took them. " Esperanza says hoping this can help us save them.

I hope so too.

" they went down a couple of rooms and then through a tunnel. "

I know that room. It reminds me so much of what happened when I was little.

I remember following my dad and grandfather trying to be as stealthy as the guards who always protected us. I wanted to prove to my mom that I could protect my dad. I didn't want her to continue being worried anytime dad went out. But what I never expected to see was my father torture and kill someone on Nikon's order. I screamed so loud that I passed out and ended up having nightmares for as long as I can remember. Ever since then Nikon saw me as weak and tried to make me strong by killing his victims right in front of me.

I don't wait for Esperanza's direction. I find my way there myself. It's hard forgetting the one thing you dreaded the most and for me it was walking down this route only to witness the ruthless death of another stranger.

Author's note

First of sorry I haven't updated all this while. I had some issues I had to take care of. I promise that this book is about to get even more interesting so please do not abandon it. I'm really sorry I'm not updating as expected.

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