Reckless – Episode 45&46

RECKLESS

Reckless – Episode 45&46

→ Out•Of•Control ←

[Book 1 in The Untamed Duet]

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All rights reserved. 

No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a BOLDLY written permission from ME.

Copyright © 2025

Naomi Cindy B.

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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

 

Stacy’s eyes darted from the hammer on the cold chair to the walls and grounds of the rabbit hole…

As if measuring her chance of survival. The order still hung in the air like an echo of destruction.

She could still hear the ringing in her ears, persistently…

“Pick the hammer beside the document, and crush your stupid pink lips for me.”

Even before she could make any attempt to pick the hammer, her chest is already hammering, threatening to tear off her chest.

She shook her head, grinning before snapping her bravado back on. “Whoever you are, screw you!!!”

Her scream resonated, and the smile on Zendaya’s face wiped off.

Even Mr. Brown has lifted his body from the banister right now.

He exchanged a greedy glance with her daughter, then he took the modulator from her and talked. “You’re only just beginning, young girl. The earlier you start cooperating, the better. We’re still gonna make your dad give up his media houses using you!”

“Screw you!!!” Stacy yelled again, pulling herself stubbornly against the chains her skin got cut several small cuts. “Did you not hear me? I said…screw you! Suck my dick!”

Mr. Brown laughed.

Unnerving. Corny.

“She’s stubborn, that’s melancholic,” he muttered.

The modulator made his voice sound grainy. Different.

“Whoever you are, you’re just a hungry, greedy bastard who wants what’s not yours! My dad worked so hard to build his media houses! Him being the richest man in the world must be driving you crazy!” Stacy laughed loudly.

She threw her head back on the cold backrest of the chair.

“And me being his pretty daughter must be running you mad! Bring it on, do what you want! You won’t ruin my face, and you won’t touch my dad!!!” She screamed again, throwing her head around. Her hair scattered.

Her neck peeled.

“She’s extra stubborn.” Mr. Brown muttered, lowering the modulator so only Zendaya heard.

“She has always been. Did you forget I told you she’s a bully?” Zendaya muttered, dipping her hand into her dad’s suit pocket.

She pulled out a handgun, reset the barrel and slid her pointer under the trigger, ready to pull.

“Then,” she muttered mercilessly, using the modulator again so her voice reached Stacy. “I’ll do you the favor and make you a cripple.”

She targeted her right leg, her stomach rumbling as she made sure her arm stayed straight.

“Now!” Mr. Brown guided, but instead of Zendaya’s gunshot, the half ceiling on top of them broke.

Two plywoods rolled down, falling on father and daughter.

It met their arms, and the gun fell out of Zendaya’s fingers.

They can’t even scream cos they’d give their real voices away if they do, but Mr. Brown received a bonus apart from the plywood.

A splash flammable alcohol sprinkled his suit too, then a half-burnt cigarette fell off that ceiling too, landing on him.

His suit caught fire.

Zendaya’s eyes popped as smokes and flames boomed on her dad’s suit.

She looked up, her neck straining fearfully as she tried to make out who’s behind this sudden fire.

She saw nothing but a pair of familiar silver eyes, but it’s only for a split second before she didn’t see it anymore, and she snapped back.

Her eyes went back to her dad who’s still dancing with the fire on him.
She went close and dragged the suit out of his body before the fire would spread to his trousers.

In the process of taking off the burning suit, her palms got burnt.

She threw the suit off, and it flew down to land not far from Stacy’s chair. Her eyes stretched.

The sawdust on the ground caught fire immediately, burning with the flooding water.

It’s not water on the ground after all. It’s oil—diluted cooking oil.

The fire started spreading, and Stacy’s free right hand pulled at the chains desperately, trying to free herself.

But it seems like the more she pulled, the harder her bound got.

By now, Zendaya and her dad have slipped away from the building.

Her chest tightened. Panic rose to the core. Her heels are out of her legs already so she’s barefooted, and her foot is scratching the irritating sawdust which will soon burn her to ashes if she doesn’t get out of here.

But how?

How would she get … Out…

Sweat covered her face, fear took control of her mind. She stopped struggling, looking around as the fire came closer and closer.

It’s starting to burn the pipes, and if it gets the pipes completely, then the oil will burst all out, and she’ll be dead.

Her mum died in an industrial fire, is she gonna die in a fire too?

She cried out….

“I don’t wanna die…. somebody help me!!!! Dad!!!!!!!!!”

A rustle came from the half ceilings on top, and her teary eyes went to the ceiling, but before whoever it is can get down, the rusty double doors of the workshop opened at the base.

The doors fell off the hinges, landing down and raising dust.

Her guards and Dorian’s guards ran inside, together with Dorian himself.

She saw their blurred silhouettes behind the fire at first, but then Dorian became clear when he jumped over the pipe and ran to her in the middle of the fire.

Her eyes turned hopeful again….

“Rian..” she sniffled.

“I got you,” He nodded, squatting and using his hands on her chains.

Three other guards helped him in trying to break the chains while the others focused on putting out the fire, but no matter how hard they tried, the chain won’t snap.

“We need a chainsaw,” a guard said urgently.

“We can’t wait for a chainsaw!” Dorian snapped impatiently, taking a gun from them.

They didn’t see it coming.

Four gunshots from him sent long bullets into the chains…

First spot beside her two ankles and second spot below her wrist.

The chains snapped, falling free from Stacy’s body.

She shot up, but she was immediately hit with a wave of weakness.

She fell back.

Dorian caught her firmly before her body could hit the chair again.

She’s still conscious, but her lids are half closed on her wet eyeballs.

He carried her in his arms, and as he took her out of the building, cops arrived, joining the guards.

The fire is out now, so the investigation started immediately.

Their yellow CRIME SCENE tape was curled around the building like a poisonous snake.

Dorian took her to the car, laying her gently on the backseat.

Twelve other trusted guards joined him, and it was Dorian who drove, madly to the hospital.

—

[Zendaya’s Mansion]

Father and daughter arrived ten minutes ago, thanks to their escape plan in that building.

They sited a door in case things went wrong, and the door was useful when the fire came from the ceiling.

But none of them escaped unscathed.

While Zendaya got burnt palms, Mr. Brown got burnt on the right elbow, knuckles, and his left forearm.

He got burnt the most.

Zendaya mixed raw egg with the burn blue liquid and ice, and she’s currently applying it to their burns.

“We didn’t get to take the contract she signed,” she muttered, anger evident in her voice.

“You said that building would never be found out by her guards,” Mr. Brown glared. “I let you do everything including the location chosing, but look where we are.”

“The person who threw alcohol and cigarette from the roof isn’t one of her guards. I saw the eyes…I saw those silver eyes and none of her guards have silver!” Zendaya stood.

“But her guards eventually found out the building, what are you saying?” Mr. Brown scoffed. “When we were escaping, we saw her guards driving into that rendezvous with the lead of Dorian!”

Zendaya’s arms dropped, her sparsely burnt palm looking painful as it dripped with raw egg and ice water.

She sat back, nodding. “I’m sorry, i thought I could do it better. I should have chose a better building.”

Mr. Brown sighed, staring at his arms. “At least we escaped.”

“Are we gonna give up now?” Zendaya asked immediately.

“For now, let your palms get better. I’ll think of a better alternative cos I’m sure Albert will never allow this to happen again even if it means employing the CIA or SWAT to guard her.” Mr. Brown replied.

“So what are we gonna do? Geez, I should have shot the gun faster.” Zendaya complained.

“This is the part where I enter Albert himself,” Mr. Brown sighed. “Did you forget?” He faced Zendaya.

“Albert acknowledges the father of every girl that’s friends with his daughter, and I’m one of them. Nothing hard in extending friendship to him and trapping him.”

“You’re brilliant,” Zendaya smiled.

“Are you sure you have no idea who the silver-eyed person from the ceiling is?” Mr. Brown faced her.

“I’ll figure it out, and when I do that, I’ll let you know.” She replied.

Mr. Brown nodded, and Zendaya rushed upstairs to relieve her bowels.

Coming out of the bathroom, she swallowed another four pills.

Beauty is pain, and she’s willing to withstand the pains.

The fact that she didn’t get to take the signed document made her hate herself.

She slapped herself on the cheek.

“You’re such a bitch, Zendaya.” She muttered.

Her shoulder cracked, and she held it with her arm.

The dislocation Cove gave it the last time still hasn’t healed cos she only went for hospital reset once.

But she doesn’t mind.

In fact, she wants the pain to stay. Anytime the shoulder cracks in pain like this, she’d be reminded of him.

She wrapped a bandage on her palm and fell in bed.

—

[Medical Center]

Stacy refused sedation.

The doctors said she’d rest better with sedation, but she didn’t consent to it, so she was just given pills of pain relievers.

She even refused drip, so she just lay on her hospital bed, looking sick.

Dorian is inside with her, but her guards and his are by the door, watching over her.

“Are you sure you really don’t need drip? I think that’ll be better,” Dorian persuaded for the second time, worry and restlessness in his eyes.

“I’m fine with the pain relievers, I’m not a weakling.” She muttered.

“I know you’re not a… weakling.” He smiled, and she returned it faintly.

“I’ll go get you something to eat. You said you haven’t eaten this morning so you need something.” He stood.

She quickly grabbed his hand.

“Don’t leave me alone in here. The nurses already forced me to eat oatmeal before I was given pain relievers,” she said.

“Oatmeal is barely a meal. Let me go get you good food.” He said.

“No. Fine, I’m a weakling, don’t leave me alone in here. Wait till my friends and dad arrives at least.” She blinked.

“Anything you say,” Dorian nodded, sitting back beside her.

She let go of his hand, and the disappointment in his eyes showed when his hand became empty.

Silence ruled the ward, except for his loud heartbeats.

“My mom…she died in an industrial fire yunno,” Stacy muttered.

He frowned.

“Dad was still the 50th richest man in the world back then…he was still hustling to be richer with his medias, and mum was in love with chemistry, so she had a Large Chemical industry,” she continued.

“OphChem?” Dorian replied.

“You heard about it?” She asked.

“It’d be weird to not know things about the girl I like,” he replied, eyes deeply emotional.

She went mute, blinking once before continuing.

“Then a fire broke out, and every of her staff survived, but she died in the fire. When I was in that workshop, surrounded by fire, I thought I was gonna die like mum.”

She folded her fist, but Dorian took it, unfolded and interlocked her fingers with his own fingers.

Their eyes met.

“Even if the only solution was entering the fire and pushing you out, I’d have done it. I’ll never allow you suffer your mum’s fate.”

Immediately he said that, she began struggling to unlock her fingers from his, but he held tight.

“I don’t wanna get entangled with you, Dorian. Any girl who dates you should be ready to date your fandom too cos they’re like a cult, so one day if she decides to break it off, they’ll ruin her.” She said.

“And id I promise you’ll never wanna break up with me?” He whispered, pleading with his eyes.

“Dorian—”

“I have my dark secrets that I can’t discuss with you now, but I promise that even if they later get revealed, you won’t get hurt. Instead of letting your smallest finger get hurt, I’ll rather die off. And I can cancel the DIAMOND fandom name so there won’t be any attachment—”

“And you think I’ll let you ruin your career for me? I’m not a ruiner,” she cut him off fast.

“But—”

“Shh, Rian. Can you…not?”

“But we can still be friends, and you’ll give me time to show you how great of a guy I am, right?” He asked.

Stacy sighed.

“I swear, I just wanna stay friends and show you my qualities and hidden parts. Then after you witness me in full, you can decide if you still don’t wanna date me.” He said.

Stacy chuckled. “Aren’t you being too sure of yourself?”

“Cos I’m a great guy, I know.” He smiled handsomely.

She nodded on her pillow.

“Fine, but during our show-me-how-great-you-are period, you can’t get jealous when I talk to other guys, and of course you can’t throw punches around.” She said.

Dorian frowned.

“Wait…Fabi—”

“Don’t say his name, cos I’m not gonna have anything to do with him again. I’m talking about other guys, not that nutjob.” She said.

He smiled wider.

“Fine. Ok. I’ll try not to get jealous.”

“We’ll see,” she smiled with her eyes, but it was cursory. “Are you the one who threw fire on my abductors? They’re definitely two, and someone set the suit of one of them on fire. The suit was probably pulled off with the help of the second person, then it was thrown down beside me. It already burned to ashes before you arrived with the guards.” She said.

“You mean… someone else was there before I came with the guards?” Dorian asked surprisingly.

“Yeah, I’m very sure. I heard the resetting of a gun barrel, so my abductors probably wanted to shoot me before the person set fire on them.” She nodded.

Before Dorian could say more, Kehlani rushed inside.

“Babe!!” She shouted.

Tania and Tasha followed behind her.

“Oh my gawd!” Tasha gasped.

“Ah geez!” Tania’s mouth widened.

“Girls,” Stacy smiled slightly.

“Bî+ch, you better thank your stars that you’re ok. Otherwise, I’d have killed you!” Kehlani ran forward.

“We were already in school when we heard the news! Albert’s daughter was abducted in broad daylight? Mad move!” Tasha said as they climbed the large bed with her.

“I’m so glad you’re fine!” Tania grunted. “Heard it was done by one of the guards from the bureau, and three guards were stabbed?”

“Yeah,” Stacy responded. “One of them is dead. The other two are in the EU, in critical conditions.”

“This is serious, who could be behind that shit?” Kehlani asked.

“It’s the same person who tried to capture me that night,” Stacy said.

“The man in black?” The twins chorused.

“Gawd, I’ll eat him raw! I swear I just wanna hold whoever it is and drain him! Look what he did to your perfect milk skin!”

“He even said he wanted to use me to threaten my dad to let go of his media houses, and they made me sign a contract to never look at Cove again.” Stacy said tiredly.

“What!” The girls chorused.

“Lower your voice, she needs all the rest she can get.” Dorian said.

“I nearly didn’t see you, our hero.” Tasha smiled.

“You were stalking her?” Tania said. “Good thing you were stalking her.”

“Shall we start discussing wedding plans?” Kehlani smiled. “You punched Cove cos of her, and your fans are still angry at him, now you played hero? Oh Romeo!”

“Irksome,” Dorian chuckled.

“You mean handsome?” Tasha winked at him. “Fine shit!”

“Wrap it up, please. I know I’m good-looking” Dorian laughed.

“For real, thank you.” Tania said. “If anything happened to her, after her dad runs mad, I’ll be the next person to run mad.”

Stacy laughed heartily in bed, and Albert Montana entered the ward with Anita.

“Beauty!” Anita gasped.

“Sweetheart,” Albert guiltily stepped closer, and Stacy sat up.

Anita quickly helped her arrange her scattered hair.

Stacy widened her arms, and Albert hugged her fondly.

“Don’t feel guilty, it’s not your fault. You didn’t know there’s an outsider in the bureau before you hired the guards.” She said.

“You know I never get into fights. I’m the most peaceful billionaire existing, and all I do is work hard. I have no idea who’s trying so hard to off me and you,but I promise you…”

He broke the hug and held her shoulders. “I promise you this won’t ever happen again. Aside from your friends, every other person will need card from SWAT before they can come close to you.”

“SWAT?” She blinked.

“They’ll be your core guards immediately you leave this place, and don’t worry, the culprit will be caught before this week runs out. Trust me, the man in black? He’s getting nabbed.” He assured.

Stacy nodded, hugging him again, her mind going to the fire on the suit.

There’s only one person in mind that’s capable of that act.

—

Dorian left the ward and went to the large waiting room of the hospital.

He got soda from the vending machine before he took his seat.

He brought the paper out of his pocket—the document signed by Stacy in the workshop.

He actually took it, and as he sipped from his canned soda, he read it.

I—Stacy Montana…. Blah blah blah fuckin blah.

So this person specifically kidnapped her cos of Cove?

Must be one of Cove’s obsessed whores who also hates Stacy and her father a lot.

He was thinking his fandom was toxic, but at least they don’t go around kidnapping people.

But this?

This is more than insane.

He was still staring at the paper when someone settled beside him.

He looked up when he felt the weight pressing the chair, and he straightened when he saw Albert.

“Sir?” He sounded surprised.

Albert glanced at the paper and nodded. “The person doesn’t only hate me and my daughter, but she’s also obsessed with Cove?”

“They were two, according to Stacy. A male and a female. The voice modulator changed their voices, but their mode of talking displayed their genders.” Dorian said.

“Too bad she didn’t see their faces, but I’ll get them. In a matter of time….” Albert said.

“You should be careful and employ the best people, sir. Whoever we’re dealing with here… they’re smart. I mean…till now, no single evidence has been found in the workshop except the suit that has burnt to ashes.” Dorian said.

“A barrel handgun was found there though—on the balcony.” Albert said.

“I guess that’s the gun Stace mentioned she heard the cocking sound.” Dorian nodded.

“It’ll be sent to forensics, and I hope we get something from it.” Albert said

“I hope so too…” Dorian nodded, readjusting his nose mask.

“And I see what your fandom is doing online and physically. You’re blessed to have them.” Albert said.

Dorian smiled tightly.

“You don’t have to feel guilty. That verminous corrupted boy deserves everything coming his way for touching my daughter intimately. If your fandom is the whip he needs, then let them continue whipping him.” Albert said.

Dorian still stayed silent.

Albert touched his shoulder.

“Thank you, the guards said you broke the chains Stacy was tied with, and you did the drive to the hospital. I’ll be insane to say I don’t want a efficient man like you for Stacy, so I’ll try to talk her into it. Let’s hope she gives him.” He said.

Dorian smiled, squeezing the soda bottle he’s holding.

—

[RIDE Uni – Psychology Major]

Kane’s back is on the wall, no bag nor books. Just his pen with which he’s scribbling nonsense on his palm as he waited for Scott.

Scott’s class will be over in three minutes.

He could feel the weird stares of the students walking past him on that corridor. He doesn’t have to look up to feel their stares.

The campus fell in a frenzy in the morning when he entered the school hand in hand with Scott.

Stacy’s abduction is the number one trending news on the campus gist.

Cove and Dorian’s fight is the number two trending shit.

Scott and Kane’s handholding to campus is the number three trending.

Then Elmira’s party is the fourth with her new boyfriend Max.

Kane sighed, looking up and taking in the judgemental eyes of the passing students for a minute before he gave his attention back to the jargons he’s writing on his palm with his pen.

If they’re this judgemental over handholding, what are they gonna do when he fucks Scott in the footies bathroom and records their moans to upload on the campus gist?

They’ll probably die which is a fair bet. Everyone will die one day.

His phone buzzed to life, and he retrieved it from his pocket.

It’s the search agency in San Francisco. Same old news.

The Message: No leads on Lynn, yet.

Kane nearly smashed his phone.

So, a girl travelled to San Francisco last year for Dorian’s concert, and somehow she disappeared.

No body. Nothing.

Is that even digestible?

Kane looked up from the phone.

Well that’d be the last time he’ll ever receive update from the San Fransisco search agency cos they’re not being productive at all.

He’s just gonna start his investigation from the scratch in this Las Vegas.

He’s gonna start from Silas, from Scott, or maybe he should go to Lynn’s school for info.

He pocketed his phone when Scott emerged from the lecture hall.

He expected him to look bright, but Scott is duller than dull.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, taking in his mood.

Scott showed him his phone screen. On the screen, the search agency message sat too.

No leads on Lynn.

Scott hasn’t forgotten about his sister after all. He’s still contacting the agency.

“I’ll bring Cove to your field on Friday, and I’ll also help you find your sister,” Kane said.

“Your promises come as suddenly as thunderstorms,” Scott snorted, lowering his phone.

Kane closed the space between them, their chests touching.

Funny, but Scott is a little bit taller than Kane. It isn’t noticeable unless they’re close like they are right now.

“I never fail a promise, you know that, freckled sin.” Kane whispered, his eyes darting to Scott’s arm.

The stab he gave him and his friends.

“I know, crazy thing,” Scott replied, his whisper going lower than Kane’s.

Kane’s hand went up Scott’s chest, crawling like phantom ants.

Scott held his breaths till Kane’s hand got to his neck, and his breaths rushed out when is lips touched his Adam’s apple.

Kane kissed it, not minding the passing students, their thorny eyes and the heated stares.

In fact, they’re the unpaid audience he needs.

Right in that hallway, He flicked his tongue over Scott’s Adam’s apple licking slowly.

He pushed it with his thumb, tracing his warm lips up to Scott’s chin.

Scott pulled Kane’s hand down suddenly, and before Kane could calculate his move, he’s already descending on him.

Lips on lips.

Scott kissed his lips.

Kane smiled, liking this dominant side of him a little bit much, but then….two plays better.

Kane’s smile disappeared, then he opened his mouth, taking in Scott’s lips completely, eating him up.

Scott’s backpack fell off his one shoulder, and his arms slid into Kane’s hair, pulling.

Kane kissed harder, Scott kissed back deeper, lips wetting.

Every single student in that hallway have wide fuckin eyes, phone nearly falling off them.

One minute was all it took for them to take over number one trending topic in RIDE campus gist.

SCOTT YOUNG AND KANE YOUNG! STEPBROTHERS DATING???

—

[Skating Rink]

“You don’t mean it!” Frank laughed, sliding recklessly on the ice with Remo.

“I’m telling you I’ve been called for a meeting with her tonight at Elite1 Hotel. Exclusive top room.” Remo replied, sweating much.

“What if you get there and she gets you arrested? Kaylee is crazy,” Frank said as they rolled to the barricade.

They both stopped, held the white wood and faced each other.

“My dad is one of her biggest Banking Customers in San Francisco, she wouldn’t wanna lay hands on me. Instead, I’ll be the one laying my hands on her cooch!” Remo winked.

“I don’t even know what to describe your with,” Frank laughed, but it was interrupted by the entrance of more ice skaters, chatting and gossiping.

• When they held hands in the morning, I was shocked, only for them to kiss right in the middle of the hallway!

• Aren’t they brothers?

• Stepbrothers

• Their parents are getting married in few months this is incestuous!

Remo and Frank picked their phones at the same time, checking out the campus gist immediately.

It’s the number one, supported with videos of them kissing madly like madhouse patients in the hallway.

Frank and Remo’s eyes left their phones, and their eyes met with a strike. Frank’s phone fell.

“What the actual f+k, bro. What the actual fuckin tuck!!!” He yelled.

Max entered the rink with Elmira hanging on his arm like an arm candy.

The shock in his eyes wide matched the guys.

“I didn’t watch it on the campus gist, I saw it live and direct!” He shouted, voice still so gobsmacked.

“I’m gonna kill Scott and bury him with my own hands!” Frank made to dash out, but Remo pulled him back.

“No, you will not ruin my plan,” he refused.

“What stupid plan!” Frank demanded.

“Right,” Max left Elmira, shifting closer to the guys.

“What stupid plan?”

Remo just smiled, villainous and meaningful.

Max stepped back, took Elmira and left the rink with her.

Frank grunted.

—

Max took Elmira to the skaters wardrobe, and they both squeezed inside one of the big closets.

Elmira’s clothes were history in a minute, but Max is still fully clothed, just that his belt is apart, and his p+nts is down.

She knelt in front of him.

By his orders, she raised her bre@sts, spread them apart, and he placed his d1ck in the middle. She squeezed her bre@sts on it.

Literally, he’s f+kin’ her bre@sts, and his d+ck cap pointed at her chin as he thrusted up in repeat, hotly.

Her p+nty is on a side, br@on the south, skirt and top by the door and her p+xy flooding.

Her squ+rt stained the floor even where he’s not touching yet.

“I swear I love you…” She m0aned, squeezing her bre@sts with the c+k in the middle again, the friction driving her crazy.

It’s like he’s already inside her, and the more she squeezed, the harder he thrusted, matching her energy.

“Spit on it,” he ordered.

And she did.

Her saliva slicked his d+ck, easing the thrusts. He went faster, f+kin her br+@sts till red veins appeared on the underside.

Till she couldn’t hold the bre@sts together anymore.

Till her n+ples went sore.

“F+k…. please f+k me. Just f+k me already, my br+@sts has had enough,” she m+aned, desperate for something.

Anything inside that hole.

Max opened her mouth, and she readily widened it.

He spit inside, and she spread it on her tongue before swallowing it.

He slapped her in the face.

“Yeah…f+k!” She cried, wanting to touch his c+k, but she pulled it away from her reach.

“You know one thing I admire about you?” He held her neck, angling her face like a starved dog.

“You don’t pretend, you don’t hide how you feel. You’re a shameless slût, and you ride in that title like my c+k.” He laughed.

“Are you going to f+k me now?” She gagged, touching her needy p+xy between her legs. “Maxwell, I’m so damn dripping.. Please f+k me.”

“Beg harder,” he slapped her again, her earring flew away from her ear.

“Mira!” Roxy’s voice interrupted from the door suddenly.

They both stared at the closed door.

“Mira!!” Roxy’s voice came again.

Elmira went out to her n+kedly, and she met Roxy panting.

“What’s going on? You cut my pleasure short,” Elmira accused.

“You’ve joined the trending topics on the campus gist group!” Roxy said.

“Are you well? We both know I’ve been trending since last night’s revelation,” Elmira frowned.

“No, this one is new entirely!” Roxy snapped. “A footage of you stealing from Stacy’s closet was posted!”

“What!” Elmira gasped.

—

[12PM]

Zendaya entered the campus for one purpose — the tutorial.

Computer Science students have a two hours free period from 12 to 2 before their next class, so Cove fixed the tutorial for that time.

She wore grey hoodie, covered her head completely with the hood. The inner of the hoodie is elastic fabric, and it has soft mittens which covered her hands and concealed her burns.

She’s aware that Stacy is in the hospital, but she’s not going to visit unless the girls and Stacy herself says sorry to her.

She’s not less like they think.

She’ll be in the tutorial hall in five minutes, and she’ll be seeing the love of her life again.

But….who was the silver-eyed person from the ceiling who threw fire on her father’s suit?

She’s yet to figure it out. There’s no silver-eyed student in RIDE.

No one has such eyes in this school, so who?

Immediately she entered the first hallway, her thoughts paused cause a lot is going on in campus today.

From Stacy’s abduction to Kane and Scott to Cove and Dorian, and now Elmira is a thief?

A footage of Elmira stealing in Stacy’s closet is in display on the LED screens in every damn hallway.

And while half of the population are talking down on Elmira, the other half are gasping over the closet itself.

• So you’re telling me one person owns this closet?

• You’re not following Stacy on IG? She flaunts it everytime.

• Oh my gawd those pink perfumes!

• Luxury? No this is heaven!

Zendaya kept her face down as she walked past the crowdy loud halls, and when she arrived at English Language hall, Elmira and Roxy and Max himself are there.

Max looks disgraced as he watched the LED video over and over and over.

They’re surrounded by a handful of students who’re waiting for what Elmira has to say with their cameras on play to record.

“Maxwell,” Elmira muttered. “Maxwell I liked the dress, and my mum is her dad’s business associate, so i went for a visit with my mum and I just thought of—”

“You thought of stealing it?” Max cut her off angrily, facing her.

Deep red streaks formed in his eye corners already.

“Max—”

“Are you happy now?” He continued. “Dirtying my reputation like this! Dirtying your father’s reputation! How’s he gonna feel in Saudi Arabia after seeing this video? Are you a kleptomaniac?” He glared.

“Max…” She tried to hold him, but he shook her off.

“Stay off my way till I call you, or I might just kill you…” He pushed her out of the way and left.

“Max!!” She went after him. “Max I love you!!”

Roxy pulled her back.

“You can quit following him, he said he’s gonna call. He didn’t break up with you so you can be rest assured.”

“Darn it, I’m sure Stacy did this, and I’m going to make her regret it! She’s fighting for Kehlani? Well watch me destroy that Kehlani!” Elmira shot.

“What are you gonna do?” Roxy frowned.

“Max still has her nudes and XXX videos on his phone, so I transferred some to my phone. Tommorow Kehlani’s turn to trend!” Elmira promised and stormed away.

Roxy punched some of the students away from their path as she followed her with a loud grin.

As they went out of sight, students began converging again.

Kleptomaniac? New.

At the other end of the hallway, a figured retreated into a corner, going down the staircase.

She wore a brown cap which covered her face, but she took off the cap when she left that hall.

Her shoulder-length hair got released.

It’s Anita.

She wore the cap again after a minute.

She continued her walk to the gate.

If her daughter is gonna continue going the wrong way, then she’s gonna become her villain.

Her stealing video she upload is just the beginning.

—

[Cove’s Tutorial Hall]

The tutorial has been moving for an hour and many minutes now.

It’s soon gonna end.

And while half of the class is listening attentively to Cove’s teachings, the other half can’t wait for this class to be over so they can go online and catch up on the gists.

Today could pass as the busiest, hottest day of this semester with the gists flying in left and right.

You dunno when you’ll become a trending topic on the group.

Zendaya is neither listening nor thinking about the gists.

Her eyes are on Cove, and in her mind, she has stripped him naked. She’s imagining him nakedly now, and the mass of d+ck she’s imagining on him made her smile.

She inserted her pen in her mouth, imagining it as him.

She nearly started sucking the pen, but the announcement of the end of the class made her take the pen out of her mouth quickly.

She quickly jotted down the assignment on her laptop as everyone began leaving hurriedly.

Trinidad walked past her table, but she suddenly came back, giving her a strange look.

“Whoever is selling you your weight loss product is good. You’re losing it noticeably. Happy slim day in advance” she mocked and left.

Zendaya gasped.

It’s really working?

She smiled, biting her lip deep.

“Thank gawd, thank…gawd…” She buried her face in her table, shedding real tears of joy.

Trinidad went to Cove’s table, and she was about to start her code discussion with him when she saw Roxy and Elmira by the door.

At the sat time, Dorian entered the hall, wearing a nose mask.

He gave Cove a signal to meet him for a talk, and Cove blankly followed him

Trinidad went to her friends, and they moved to the rooftop together.

“You didn’t see the trending topic?” Elmira asked.

“Which one? There’s a lot today,” Trinidad muttered dryly.

“A video of Mira stealing from Stacy’s closet! It’s everywhere. Now they’re calling her a klepto!” Roxy said.

“So?” Trinidad frowned.

“You did not just say that! You’re not angry?” Elmira gasped.

“Angry that your dirty secret is out?” Trinidad glared harder. “You entered the mansion of the richest man to steal, and you got caught on camera, and now you’re angry? Your audacity is first class.” Trinidad chuckled.

Suddenly, Elmira locked Trinidad by the neckline of her sweatshirt.

Trinidad released an unplanned gasp, eyes widening a little.

“We’re friends! It’s not right for you to talk this way!” Elmira claimed.

Trinidad removed Elmira’s grip from her sweatshirt, then she pushed her.

Elmira lurched and fell hard on the edge of the rooftop.

She’d have rolled off, but Roxy quickly held her on that edge.

“The next time you hold any of my clothes like that with your filthy hands, I’ll be the one to tell the whole school that your mum is Stacy’s housekeeper and that your father is not a CEO! Your father abandoned you with your mum when you were born and you don’t even know who your father is you golddigger!” Trinidad threatened.

“Trini? From you?” Roxy faced her after helping Elmira up.

“Yeah, from me! I thought we could be friends, so I’ve been keeping the secret with you both, but enough is enough. Being friends with you both should be a crime, and now I’m tired! Not like you both benefit me socially and academically. Desperados!” Trinidad shot and rushed downstairs, leaving them there.

“Roxy we should stop that bî+ch! She won’t rat me out, right?” Elmira said fearfully. “You and her are my sponsors, and you both are also the only ones in this campus who know I’m from a poor family and—”

“I’ll kill Trinidad with my own hands! I’ll send Cove out of my studio apartment and make sure no house in this LA will accommodate him!” Roxy threatened venomously.

Elmira swallowed.

“And about your sponsoring?” Roxy faced her. “I’ll be the one to sponsor you alone from now on.”

“Thank you so much Roxy!” Elmira hugged her tightly.

Roxy rolled eyes, planning all woes in this world for Trinidad already.

—

[Dorian’s Private Lounge]

Dorian and Cove stood by the glass wall, face-to-face.

While Dorian’s arms are pocketed, Cove’s arms are free at his sides, and he’s still blank.

The shuffling and chatting of students beneath them hummed around as their eyes bored into each other like warlords who met on the Warfield for the first time in centuries, testing their individual grits.

“Stay off Stace,” Dorian started the talk, softly but firmly.

Cove chuckled, the sound so disturbing. “I’m not supposed to make a sound, but you said STAY OFF. Sorry are you talking to me?”

Dorian closed the space between them immediately.

“She was kidnapped this morning cos of you! She was nearly killed cos of you! She was nearly shot, nearly burnt to death! She narrowly escaped death cos of you!” He slammed.

Cove went silent, but his eye contact with Dorian right now is insane.

Piercing. Dark. Cold.

“I wanted to play fair before, but with you? There’s no playing fair, I’ve realized. Let’s dirty our hands, pour out our cards and show how far we can go for that girl. I don’t care anymore, Cove. I want you to stay off, or else you won’t like it when I start…you won’t fuckin like it.” Dorian threatened.

“Are you threatening me?” Cove scoffed, so calm.

“You threatened me first by kissing her! You didn’t say it, but the kiss was a threat! And now if you refuse to stay off her like I said, then expect worse from me. Let’s put everything in line and let’s see the last man standing. You, a garage boy, or me…you know who I am.” Dorian muttered, so dark.

Cove smiled, his eye lock with Dorian breaking as he looked down.

Then…he turned around and walked out of the lounge.

Dorian pulled his own bracelet, cutting it off too.

The black diamonds scattered on the lounge ground.

—

[7pm, Elite1 Hotel]

Kaylee’s Mercedes Benz purred softly into a pause in the underground exclusive park of the hotel.

The air feels so tense already.

She checked out herself in her bag mirror, wearing another layer of red lipstick on her lips.

If she’s gonna trap whoever it is, she has to look like she’s really here to get fucked, that’s the plan.

She’s gonna interrogate him stylishly by herself, then call the cops on him.

Two cops are in the car with her. One is driving in the front while the other one is on the passenger seat.

Angela is on the backseat with her.

“I wonder why you refused to see his facial picture though,” Angela said.

“Cos I don’t need it?” Kaylee sighed. “Wait here with the guards. In ten minutes, I’ll be done with the interrogation, and I’ll give you a beep to come up with the cops.”

“Sure, Kay.” Angela agreed.

Kaylee climbed down from the car, and her entourage of guards from another car followed her inside, her red heels threatening to drill the ground, her perfume de drifting like fragrance from the future.

From the top exclusive floor, Remo is watching her entrance from the intercom calmly.

He dropped ice cube in his square cup of Hennessy.

“You won’t wanna go home tonight, I bet it.” He muttered.

—

[Medical Center, 7:30]

Albert didn’t even wait for Stacy to leave the hospital before he poured the SWAT officers into the medical center. While they’re inside the hospital, ordinary guards are outside.

Albert himself is with the cops, following up on the investigation.

The girls left few minutes ago, each wanting to go for a change of clothes since Stacy is now asleep.

She was secretly given the sedatives, so she dozed off eventually.

Dorian promised to bring her a homemade food, so he went home to make the food for her.

She’ll be discharged tommorow morning, but she’ll be getting transferred to a dermatologist ward tonight for treatments on the cuts on her skin so they won’t leave scars.

That’s the only time she’s allowed to be taken out of the ward.

At exactly 8pm, the tall nurse in charge of the movement showed up.

Blue scrubs, flat shoes, clear glasses, and smooth bob hair.

She scanned her ID with the SWAT officers before she was allowed into the ward to move her.

She put on her nose mask.

Stacy is still fast asleep, holding a black-pink teddy to her side as steady breaths rushed out of her nostrils.

Two other nurses entered the ward to help. Stacy was moved from the ward bed to the stretcher, and her eyes opened slightly, then clearly.

“Is it time to see the dermatologist?” She groaned, wishing she could sleep for more time.

“Yeah, miss.” One of the other two nurses replied.

She was wheeled out of the ward, and she lay back quietly.

“Why is Dorian not here with his food yet? Has he cooked rubbish and he’s ashamed to bring it?” She muttered.

“He’s on his way already,” The other nurse replied her.

The first nurse hasn’t said a thing at all, and she’s the major one pushing the stretcher, but …

His eyes look kinda familiar, and the moment Stacy saw it, she couldn’t stop looking.

Where has she seen her?

“You’re the new resident nurse?” One of the other two asked her.

She nodded.

“You don’t talk?” The other nurse asked.

Now they’re in front of the elevator that’d take them down the dermatologist floor.

They entered, but not all guards can enter with them since it’s limited space.

Just one guard entered, making five people in the medical elevator.

Immediately the elevator door closed, the elevator lights went off too.

Then…struggles happened.

Hits, smashes, cracks…

Stacy sat up on the stretcher in the dark, fear gripping her again.

What’s occuring? Another kidnap?

“It’s dark in here!!!” She screamed at the top of her voice, hoping help with come in.

She scrambled to find the button so she’d come down from the elevator, but that’s when a matchstick stuck on.

Sharp and fast.

The kindled fire from the matchstick illuminated the elevator for a second, and for that flashing second…

Stacy caught the sight of a pair of glinting silver eyeballs.

She gasped soundlessly, and the electric lights came back on.

By now, the guard is on the floor, unconscious.

The other two nurses are unconscious too…

On the floor.

The quiet nurse is missing, but her bob wig and scrubs is on the floor, then a pair of cotton wool rolled like br+asts are also down.

And…. instead of the quiet nurse, a male is inside the elevator with her.

He threw his head back, smoothening his slightly scattered hair.

Now that there’s no fire, his eyeballs are black, and he’s…

“Cove…” Stacy breathed out, eyes wide and mouth agape.

He remained there, backing the wall and staring right at her with the demonic smirk on his lips.

“You’re the quiet nurse?” Stacy muttered, shaking her head.

Cove took a bite from a chocolate bar, taking his body off the wall as he chewed.

Stacy tried to quickly press the open button, but he was faster to block her chance with his leg, pulling her to him.

He cupped her chin with an hand, and she became utterly breathless as he brought his face closer, closer—

“I swear to gawd if you try to kiss me again—”

“You’re going to gently follow me out of this medical center right now. Actually, you can try to play stubborn, and I’ll have to kidnap you for real.” He muttered, his second hand sliding around her waist.

She jerked. “Don’t! I was taken because of you and told to stay away from you! Even in the absence of that! I don’t wanna get beside you! I won’t make another mistake!”

He pulled her closer like he didn’t hear her, and she grabbed his belt tight, swallowing nothing as his muted eyes stared down at her.

“What do you want?” She breathed shakily.

“I made french spaghetti, salad and beef on the side. Here’s what’s gonna happen,” He whispered, voice dropping but still so deep.

“You’re coming home with me to eat it all till no other bastard food will fit into your throat again.” He finished.

TBC.