Reckless – Episode 75&76

RECKLESS

Reckless – Episode 75&76

→ Out•Of•Control ←

[Book 1 in The Untamed Duet]

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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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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

[Ten Minutes Later]

Cove sat in bed, shirt down, face up and eyes staring at the beauty in front of him.

She saw the brutal bruises on his face and knuckles and had suspected he had wounds on his body too which he denied, but of course she didn’t believe, so he had to take off his shirt to prove his genuineness.

Now as she stood in front of him, eyes raking over his skin, she looks satisfied.

When he had cut her off by falling on his knees earlier, she was dumbfounded for three long minutes without a say to drop, but then…

He drove here with his already-drying knuckle bruises, and the bruises had reopened, blood trickled down and dripped to the ground with a gentle sound which brought her out of her daze. She told him to stand, he did, and here they are.

“I told you, my body is fine.” He said after she stared at the skin expressionlessly for a minute.

The tears on her face is still there, but when he raised his hand to touch it earlier, she didn’t even allow him to touch. He’d have forcefully dragged her close to wipe it, but he’s still pleading for leniency now, and if he wants her soft eyes, he’d have to thread carefully.

He has never seen her this expressionlessly cold before.

Not even when she was still his enemy.

Oh… correction; Not even when he was still her enemy, because…

She was never an enemy to him—just a spoilt princess in need of a tamer.

She entered the inner room—Ophelia’s private lab and returned with a small kit which she poured treatments on the bed from.

She picked out the facial treatments and pressed the potent ones on a cotton bud, bringing it to his face to start applying, but he grabbed her hand suddenly.

“I don’t need these,” He said.

“I don’t need your consent or opinion.” She replied, and he immediately let go of her hand.

She pressed the cotton to his face on the right places, making sure the ointments and balms mix well.

He cringed a few times from the sting and folded his palms from pain, but she neither stopped nor slowed down, till she got done with the face and moved to his knuckles.

When she saw how badly broken it is, she scoffed without even looking at his eyes.

She hasn’t looked at his eyes since he sat on this bed.

“I know your life means nothing to you, but there are people who’d get hurt if you die. I know someone is hunting you from your family, but not everyone will hate you in that same family. There are people who’ll cry and be sad if you die, you should treat your life with more value.” She said, fingers shaking as she began applying the treatments on his knuckles without gentility.

Just like she did to the face.

She mightn’t be looking at his eyes, but Cove’s eyes didn’t leave her face, following her eyes that are covered by her lashes.

Just like his face, she felt the mad sting of the ointments on his knuckles too, but he didn’t even jerk.

His eyes followed her face everywhere, and when a tear fell out of her eyes to drop on his knuckle…

He lifted his hand to her face, lifting it.

She’s really crying cos another tear fell from her eyes immediately.

“Stacy….”

“I hate you so much I can’t even explain! I don’t even wanna see your face right now but you’d shove it in front of me anyways… You’re so fuckin insufferable and a beast that only has a human skin. I really, really, really hate you…” She lamented, finally looking at his eyes.

It’s like there are onions in the eye lock cos as she stared, she cried harder, just that she allowed him to wipe the tears this time.

He wiped with his two hands, cradling her small face in the middle of his palms like an egg.

“I know, I know…. I’m a bastard, aren’t I?” He whispered.

“A big bad, bastard…” She cried again, sniffling hard, red veins appeared below her eyes. “You should have slowed down when I was begging. Why do you think I came there without underwear? I was ready, but you could have handled me with care. But because I sent a note to Dorian? You went beastly on my like a slave! I know you’re used to getting whatever you want but so am I! I’m not a toy! I love fear but I hate being manhandled!” She cried more.

“Stacy…”

“I hate you…” She slapped his chest with her balled fist.

“Stacy, look at me …” He held her shoulders, but she shook him off and continued hitting his chest with her balled fist, repeatedly.

It went from soft to hard, and the sound filled the cellar as her fists filled his skin. When the fists felt insufficient, she began nailing him.

Thankfully, her fisted nails are long enough. She made patters on his chest with the nails.

He allowed her, just sat there and watched her do everything as her tears rolled without hitch down her chin.

He eventually caught her fists, and she struggled with him, but he successfully brought them down before hugging her tightly.

She wanted to break it, but his two arms were enough to contain her body.

She softened, attaching her teeth to his neck. She bit down hard, but he didn’t feel it and just continued holding her, caressing her hair.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated, his second hand caressing her back.

Stacy began hiccuping, softening completely and trying to calm,but her breaths were still heavy against his neck, her nose leaking snot with her tears, and they smudged his neck.

He didn’t mind, he just stayed still, letting her do her thing, coaxing her with pats and rubs till only her hiccups could be heard.

She pushed herself out of his hug eventually, and their faces met, eyes locking again, deeply.

He raised his fingers to wipe the last trace of tears from her face, and this time,it was her who hugged him.

Her arms travelled around his body, and he immediately reciprocated, stroking the back of her neck.

He kissed her hair.

“Keep doing it,” she said immediately, and he obeyed, pressing repeated kisses to her hair like a baby’s.

She hugged him tighter.

—

[No Sleep Garage]

Now upgraded to look like a modern garage with a better gate, interior and exterior, today feels like the proper opening day of the garage.

To Matteo, DIAMONDS burning the garage was a blessing cos if they didn’t, how would he have had the chance to this newness?

He stood in front of the gate, smiling as he stared at it.

“I bless the day I took you into this place, T.” He smiled again.

[Years Ago]

It’s a rainy evening. Fine threads connected earth to the sky.

Even if you’re carrying umbrella under the rain, you’ll still get wet.

It’s really heavy.

The garage has leakages everywhere, and there’s no gate yet too, so everything going on in the garage can be seen by passerbys.

A man had brought his car for the AC repair.

Matteo had repaired the AC, but he mistakenly touched what he shouldn’t have touched too, so now when the car the honk is pressed, the car wipers start working.

Matteo is now in the rain, trying to fix what went wrong, shaking so bad his flannel shirt is gummed completely to his body.

The car owner is standing under the canopy, washing him with words…

“I was told you were good, so I came, but look what you did. If you know your eyes aren’t good enough, then go open a cobbling shop and leave mechanic work alone!”

“You’re an idiot who should have said you can’t repair a Fiat, but no,you took the job like a dog and ended up ruining everything!”

“I’m calling my lawyer!”

Matteo rolled out from under the car at this point, going on his knees. “I swear to you, I’m not always like this, but I was trying to settle a family matter when I was repairing, and my hands touched what it shouldn’t—”

The man didn’t even look at him. He’s already rushing down the garage with his phone to his ear and his umbrella to his head.

Obviously, he’s calling the cops.

Matteo held his head with two hands, panicking as he looked at the car again, but his eyes went back to the entrance cos he thought he saw someone, and it’s true.

Someone is right there.

In this heavy rain, even if umbrella is useless, everyone carried it to fight a little bit of the downpour, but this young boy carried nothing.

He stood there, drenched in the rain, eyes empty, and he’s very sure his soul is empty too cos the darkness in his expression?

It’s lethargic.

He walked into the shop with calculated steps, and he didn’t even say a word to Matteo before taking the tool bag.

He opened the car door end entered.

“Young boy! Young boy! What are you…” Matteo said, speechless.

It only took one minute. The boy pressed down the horn, and the horn worked accordingly. The wipers worked separately too.

“Oh…” Matteo gasped, speechless again.

The owner came back, seeing his car is back to normal, he faced Matteo with pointed finger.

“Count yourself lucky cos you were just a needle gap away from becoming a prisoner!”

Matteo stepped back, and the man drove out of the garage roughly.

Now Matteo turned back to face the boy who had saved him.

He smiled slightly, looking him up and down. He wore a plain black shirt and loose pants. Nothing else peculiar about him except those hollow eyes of his.

“You saved me!” Matteo gushed.

“I’ll continue working here with you. I live in the third street.” He said as if measuring his words.

No life in those words too.

Matteo smiled awkwardly, then looked him up and down again.

“I won’t reject if you’re expecting me to reject. What’s your name?”

The boy took his time, as if deciding on one before speaking.

“Cove.”

[Present Time]

Matteo grinned, resting his palms on his sides as he swept another look at the garage gate.

One month after Cove started working with him, he got so many new customers, and in another month, the garage upgraded and got a gate. He has been making it since then, and if he hadn’t been sending 70 percent of his profit to his wife, he’d be living comfortably now.

He sighed.

But Cove has brought trouble as much as he brought luck.

There was a time the street guys complained he was rude and ganged up against him, and he beat them till he killed one of them.

Another time, a female customer was flirting with him. He pulled her earring till he tore the pierced part of her ear away.

He landed in jail for a month.

Another time, a male customer was complaining his car got repaired late. He threw a spanner at Cove, Cove threw an hammer back.

The man’s eye got severely hit, and he went blind in that eye.

Cove landed in jail for three months.

Matteo sighed again.

Not that he’s complaining, but he’d love to know the kinda family who raised him to be boundless like this too.

He does what comes to his mind and says what comes to his mind without thinking about consequences as if the whole word is below him.

He’s really unfathomable.

Trevor drove out of the garage in his hotel rented Porsche and lowered his window.

He stretched his arm to Matteo, and the man stuck palms with him.

“Happy opening day!!” They chorused, laughing together.

Trevor drove off to school, and Matteo climbed the fence of the garage, opening his arms.

“Work can start coming again!!!!”

Now that he’s standing on the fence, he’s seeing a black Mazda not far from the garage gate below the street.

And if he’s not mistaken, that car belongs to…

He jumped down from the fence, going after the car.

Seems the person inside saw him coming and reversed the car, but Matteo cornered it before the car could even straighten.

He stood in front of it, panting heavily…

“I knew it was you.” He said breathlessly, sweating.

After two long minutes, the front door opened, and Anita stepped out of the car, her big dull yellow gown getting blown by the breeze.

“Anita,” Matteo said emotively, wanting to move close…

“Can you maintain this distance? I can’t promise I won’t slap you if you come close.” She said bitterly.

“How have you been doing?” Matteo asked alternatively.

“How have I been doing?” Anita nearly laughed, voice grumpy. “You never thought about that when you abandoned me in the ghetto after impregnating me!”

“That was because I was scared! I wasn’t ready to shoulder the responsibilities of a fath—”

“Oh but you knew how to fûck?” Anita finally laughed.

Matteo bit his lip regretfully, nearly making it bleed.

“That is why I’m working hard, and I saved up, and I searched for you, found out you’ve been working for Albert Montana, and I found your account number, and I’ve been sending you money…” He said.

“You started sending me cash last year ending! Before that, do you know what I’ve been through? Do you know how I’ve been surviving with the kids? I went from one construction site as a worker to another restaurant as a dishwasher! In the rain and in the sun, I suffered hell and slept in saunas with the pregnancy! I gave birth in the sauna too cos I had no strength to go to the hospital! And the kids? They couldn’t even start schooling in time cos there wasn’t enough fund!! I was only able to school them after I started working in Montana Mansion! I was—”

“Wait…wait wait…” Matteo shook his head, tears beading his eyes. “Kids. Anita, you said kids. Anita…”

Anita just got back in her car, and without minding if she’d hit him, she awakened the engines.

“Anita! Anita!!!!”

She drove off the street, and Matteo’s fingers went buried in his hair.

He shoved the second one in his mouth, biting his nails shakily.

“Kids? She had….twins.” He laughed, his tears falling eventually. “She had twins, and I was… What? A jerk….”

He laughed again, mocking himself. “I wouldn’t forgive me too!”

He squatted on that road, crying alone.

Trinidad is on her bike on the other side of the road, and she witnessed everything silently.

She was actually coming to pick up Trevor’s wishlist cos apart from a car, she planned to buy him everything he wants, and he had promised to drop his list in the garage.

She came to get it, but witnessed this unexpected show instead.

“Matteo is Elmira’s father? And I’m guessing Jeremy is the twin brother. Phew!” She smirked.

—

[Young Mansion]

After what happened three nights ago with Kane, Scott has decided to go with the flow too and do the avoidance game with Kane.

He has been on it for two days now, and today is the third.

The soft clattering of cutlery on plates saturated the air as he came downstairs wearing his jersey.

His Major finished their tests yesterday, so he’s gonna start practicing today towards the second football march on Sunday.

With his messenger bag on his shoulder, he strolled.

Silas, Owen and Kane are at the dinning room, but he didn’t even spare them a glance.

“You’re not eating breakfast again today? Scott, are you sick?” Owen asked worriedly.

Her wedding with Silas is in two weeks by the way, and she looks better cos Silas cut down on his punishments. She needs to conserve her energy till after the wedding when she’d enter a lifeline matrimony of pain and tears.

Scott didn’t give a reply to Owen though.

He didn’t even look back till he was out of the house.

Two minutes later, Kane drank some water, leaving half his chicken on his plate before leaving the house.

Now with just Owen and Silas at the dinning table, the house feels like a large coffin again.

Owen’s hands began shaking on her plate, and when she was bringing a piece of cut chicken to her lips, it fell to her clothes.

She spranged up, dropping the fork. “I’m so sorry!”

She bent down to clean it up, but Silas stood and pulled her up, stopping her with a deceptive smile.

“I don’t wanna touch you till the wedding, but you’re making that harder than it should. Is it so hard to be a good woman?” He muttered, running his thumb on her jaw.

It felt ghostly, like ants crawling. Owen cringed, and he suddenly picked the fork from the plate, stabbing her palm with it.

“Ah!!!!” She screamed, falling to her knees immediately as blood dripped to the white floor.

Her mouth couldn’t close, and her hold on the wrist of that hand got tighter and tighter. She grunted again as her blood formed rivulets.

“You have to keep your body spotless till the wedding, so this stab is just a reminder to tell you that after the wedding, your main punishment is waiting.” Silas declared.

He started heading upstairs, but in the middle of the stairs, he looked back under his glasses.

“And you better find a way to make the wound heal before then. I can’t marry a wounded wife.” He said and then disappeared upstairs.

Owen stayed where she stayed, staring at the fork stuck in the middle of her palm.

She didn’t remove it.

She looked up at one of the secret cameras surrounding the dinning and sighed, standing.

She turned, removed the fork and called a maid to clean the blood.

Then, she used her left hand to get her phone, texting Kane.

—

Kane made a stopover at Reid’s place to get him since Reid can’t drive, and now Kane is driving them to school smoothly.

“Why the fûck didn’t you just call your driver?” Kane complained.

“Cos I trust you more with my life?” Reid replied with a grin.

“You’re a fucker,” Kane smirked, speeding up.

“Slow the fûck down you maniac! I’m not the cause of your avoidance with Scott!” Reid shouted.

Kane’s phone made a sound, and Reid took it, unlocked it and showed him the message from Owen.

Owen: I know I said one week, but you’ll have to keep it going till the wedding. We can’t ruin things now that we’re close to our goal.

Kane stopped the car immediately, and Reid’s head almost broke the window beside him.

“Two more weeks? She’s not even asking how I’m holding up with the one week agreement, but now two more weeks?”

“Work is work, Kane. You said Scott is already returning the avoidance energy, that’s cool. Before you know it, two weeks is gone. And don’t even act like feelings was supposed to be part of the plan! We came here to work, not fuvk!” Reid said.

Kane’s hands held the wheel tighter, eyes rolling so much.

—

[Montana Mansion]

Anita crawled to her room immediately she arrived.

She wiped the tears on her face and checked the campus gist for the tenth time today.

The news of Elmira’s adoption is still flying around.

She went from Elmira Wolfe to George—Roxy’s surname.

Roxy really adopted her as a sister.

Anita dropped the phone and nodded twice, holding the tears back.

Now she has lost her two children, right? And the only way to get them back is to get rich.

She has to be rich to take Jeremy back from Kaylee.

And Elmira herself specifically said she shouldn’t call her if she’s not ready to connive and take Albert’s wealth for themselves.

She sniffled, wiping her nose.

She took her phone again, logging in to the banking loan app.

Carrying the pregnancy alone was hell on earth. She gave birth at the sauna, but she lost a lotta blood and fell in coma for months.

She woke up to maintain of debts to be paid to the hospital, and she had to borrow loans…

She borrowed loans from Kaylee’s banking network. Colossal loans she has to repay.

She has been planning to gather her salaries here and Matteo’s money to start a business later this year, but now she has to pay back.

She needs to pay Kaylee back to take her son and pay Roxy to take her daughter back too.

But how?

Her savings isn’t even enough to pay Kaylee back yet.

She wiped her tears again, staring at the billion loans on the bank app.

She shut her eyes, but the dinging of her phone made her open up.

She just got a message.

A new text…

• Aren’t you tired of of serving like a slave in the Montana Mansion? Press 1 if you’re interested in making Albert a forgotten man, and press 2 if you’re interested in taking his money.

Anita spranged up, staring at the strange text from the strange number. Her eyes widened.

—

[Airport]

As usual, DIAMONDS went out of their way to make the welcome back memorable as fûck.

They filled the airport in every space and other flights had to get delayed cos there’s no space for people to pass through to their gates.

If the crowd at Kaylee’s arrival to LA one month ago was mad, then this crowd is madder with their screams, yells and board writings.

• Your enemy is our enemy, Rian!

• Just say the word and we’ll die for you in an instant!

• We have plans to go exhume Cove’s parents body in the Bronx, please tell us to go ahead!

• Shall we decorate Stacy’s dad company with her obituary?

• We love you so much please smile!

• Riri you’re greater than the world!!

Jeremy didn’t even smile or wave in the slightest.

He wore dark shades too, so he looks like war.

Kaylee and Angela at his sides are the ones doing the smile and waving.

“Smile…” Kaylee stylishly whispered in his ear, but it’s obvious that even if heaven falls today, he won’t smile.

His mood is too off for that shit.

His crew members came to welcome him too with a convoy, but he just walked past them into the car. Straight without saying a word to anyone of them.

“This is the first time Riri looks so down.” The drummer said.

“I know, right?” The lead guitarist replied worriedly.

Kaylee and Angela did the final waves before getting in the car with him, and Kaylee grabbed his blazer immediately, pulling him closer.

“You do not get to be as stiff as that! Are you trying to ruin my son’s image? Your single hit 1.1B streams already, that was a great opportunity to thank them, but you had to ruin it with that stupid boring smile-free face?”

“Chill, Mama K,” Jeremy looked at her, removing his shades with finesse. “Your son will wake up soon, so these rantings will be over. I know you’re tired of me.” He smirked.

“You damn…” Kaylee raised her hand on him, and Angela quickly lowered it, cautioning her.

“Control your anger, Kay.”

Kaylee straightened and got down from the car with a huff. “I’ll meet y’all home soon. Need to go see Albert for now.” She said.

She entered another car.

The car with Jeremy and Angela drive off, and Kaylee’s car followed on the road.

She quickly typed a text on her phone…. To Remo.

Kaylee: Back in the city. Ready with the chains and all. Tonight, you make me forget about my stress.

Remo’s reply was instant…

Remo: I was getting impatient. Welcome back, Mrs. Pvssy Wesley.

Kaylee smiled. “He’s a motherfucker, literally.”

—

[OphChem Cellar]

Cove had went out to get breakfast for Stacy some minutes ago, and he came back with one of her favorites—Spaghetti and meatballs.

Exactly the way she wants it. No ceremonies on the side, she just wants normal today, and now he’s feeding her like a baby.

She sat in bed, legs folded in a Buddhist style while he sat across, feeding her every forkful gently. She opened her mouth, taking it gently everytime too.

He choose the smallest fork, but somehow, opening her mouth properly is a problem.

“I wonder why your mouth is so small.” He said.

“Why are you talking like Tasha?” She blinked. “I have a small stature like my grandma! Of course everything is small!” She frowned.

“Your mum was tall?” He asked, feeding her another full.

“Yeah, mum was of average height, just like dad. But I had to inherit the shortness of my late grandma!” She said dramatically.

He smiled, not bothering to wipe the grease on her lips.

“But apart from that, this thing is spicy!” She held his wrist.

“You said you liked spice,” he said.

“But not too much you cruel thing!” She remarked, slapping his arm.

He chuckled and offered her a cup of water which she drank from.

Dropping the cup, he began feeding her the meatballs.

“I’m willing to share one with you,” she teased him with a blink.

“Jokes on you, I hate meat.” He said.

“You’re a vegetarian?” She gasped.

“Don’t f+kin call me that ugly name. I hate animal products cos I hate animals in general.” He frowned.

“Why do you hate meat?” She asked seriously.

“Cos my favorite horse once betrayed me? He stopped running when I was riding.” He said casually.

“Wait… you’re actually mad!” She exclaimed. “You hate animals cos of that? My chest… you’re just weird!”

“So….what happened to that horse?” She blinked.

“I burnt—”

“You burnt it! Of course you did! You mentally deranged nutjob!” She cut him off loudly.

He smiled again.

She’s so cute when she’s talkative like this. The way her long dark lashes bat, and the way she points at him with her long nails.

The way her lips flatten and her delicate shoulders rise. The way the fine collarbones set.

He was staring at her and at the same time staring at these expressions, and his smile never faded.

Now she’s full, so he dropped the plate, and she felt the grease on her lips as she tried to talk.

She got tissues to wipe, but he held her hand and shook the tissue off.

His head came in, faces meeting. He attached his lips to hers, kissing away the crumbs from her lips.

She blinked, cheeks reddening as if that was her first kiss.

She’s sure his gentle act is for acting sake to calm her down and find her softness again, and soon, he’ll go back to his wild, uncontrollable side again.

Her Thiago is never gonna stay gentle.

But she’s wishing this side of him should last.

She likes when he’s attentive like this, and the way his eyes follows every move she’s making.

She popped her lips out of his mouth after he licked it all, and she blinked severally before drinking water.

Not minding the fact that she just ate, she lay down on her right side in bed, and Cove followed suit immediately.

He lay down on his left side facing her, stroking her face gently, touching every space. Her whole face could nearly fill his one palm.

They exchanged breathings, eye contact, tension as the caress went deeper, extending to her lips.

He didn’t go beyond the face though.

“That will never happen again. I won’t touch you sexually unless you tell me to.” He whispered.

“You better keep to your promise.” She muttered, burying her face in his chest and hugging him under the warm blankets.

Cove frowned.

Promise?

Wait…is that considered a promise?

Just like that?

Fûck, people are so strange.

—

[Outright Medias]

“In three days, out candidacy in presidency will be out.” Kaylee sighed, relaxing on her chair in front of Albert who’s sipping wine.

“You took too long in Vegas, and you missed a lotta conferences.”

“You sent me the footages, so I know who’s on our side and who’s not. Not something to fuss about.” Kaylee said confidently.

“It’s imperative that you shouldn’t miss anymore meetings. We’re just starting to build the seats, and by the end of the year, we should have a stronghold against the elections next year.” Albert said.

Kaylee smiled, leaning forward on her chair, whispering. “You’re already talking like the President.”

“That’s only normal. The country is safe in my hands.” Albert laughed, dropping his glass.

“You know the grandest? The fact that our wards are getting engaged. It’ll be the grandest engagement ever. People will think it’s a wedding!” Kaylee boasted loudly.

“How he doing? I mean…. Dorian.” Albert asked.

“Voice back to normal, but he’d have to use prosthetic on his finger.” Kaylee sighed, feigning sadness.

“Once our candidacy is announced in three days, Cove will be in trouble.” Albert assured.

“I know what you’re thinking, President” Kaylee smiled as they picked their glasses again, clinking.

—

[Lane Mansion, 7PM]

The boys had been waiting since 6, waiting for Remo’s father—Minister Lane to appear.

He ordered them to come to the mansion for dinner since three days ago, and they’ve been coming without meeting him. Just the maids.

Today, the maids said he mandated them to wait, so they waiting.

They’re all smoking pipes in the living room, smokes curling like apparitions.

If Remo’s mother were here, she’d probably make them all kneel for smoking as big as they are, but Mrs. Lane is not in the country.

She’s managing her affairs somewhere in Africa.

Remo’s mother is a strict black woman, just that his father’s white genes won, so he was born white.

Another cloud of smokes rolled out of his lips, and he groaned.

“If your mum were here, I can imagine us jumping like monkeys now!” Max laughed.

“Remo’s mum has to be the scariest woman I’ve ever met, that evil witch enjoyed making us cry when we were young.” Frank said.

“Blame yourselves for chosing to be my friends since childhood.” Remo grinned, pointing his pipe forward. “I’m fuckin Kaylee again tonight!”

“Ohh…she spent almost a week in Vegas, she missed your cóvk don’t blame the widow!” Frank said.

“No blames found!” Remo said.

Their laughter spread.

“And Kehlani is being a good girl by staying off Reid. I can tell she’s scared of what I might do.” Max said proudly.

“You and this Lani girl,” Frank frowned. “Why did you even breakup with her in the first place?”

“Cos Remo influenced me?” Max shrugged.

“Now don’t point fingers! I didn’t hold you at gunpoint!” Remo snarled.

“I have my eyes on Zendaya though,” Frank announced. “She deserves a good fûck for that nice shape she just acquired!”

“Bad boy!” Remo laughed, but the air changed when Minister Lane entered.

They dropped their pipes, stepping out of the smokes to meet him.

Minister Lane—a tall lanky man with shallow eyes looks like he’s in awe as his shadowed eyes stayed on his son.

“Did you just say you were fuckin Kaylee?” He said.

Remo scoffed. “Old man,you heard that?”

“Tell me!” The man held his shoulders.

“Yes, that’s right. Any issue? Are you gonna seize my cars? Remember you only bought five out of my ten car collections, I bought the remaining five with money from my old women so what?” Remo smirked.

“No one is talking about your cars, fool! You’re fuckin Kaylee? Good boy! You’re really my son! Keep records! Keep clear records!” Minister Lane grinned, tapping his cheek.

Frank and Max exchanged glances behind father and son.

Remo smiled, getting his father.

“You’re interested in ruining Kaylee too? Great!”

—

[Nightfall, Elite1 Hotel]

Kaylee is suspended on the ceiling, nakedly. The ceiling has a panel for this shit, so it’s not affecting the buildup as she spiralled.

Eyes? Blindfolded.

Mouth? Ball-gagged

The chains binding her wrist to the ceiling are eating into her skin, but she doesn’t care.

She’s only interested in the young boy below her body.

Remo.

Remo stood on the bed, and from there, he could touch her anyhow he pleases.

He’s naked too, grinning derisively as he touched her with a feathery, tickling stuff made from clustered furs.

Kaylee squeeze, moaned against the gag, pulled against the restraints.

She flailed as the sensations tortured her, sending jolts to her center.

Remo looked over at the hidden camera in the chandelier, smiling eerily before returning his attention to the woman.

Now that his father is interested in getting her videos too, he’s gonna be taking this more serious.

He unwrapped a v+brator, inserting it into her center.

The greedy center swallowed it whole, and Kaylee shuddered as if electrified as the machine drilled her.

Remo stuck her arse with his belt from behind, creating redness.

Kaylee saw the otherworld.

—

[Two Days Later, RIDE University]

Trinidad decided to upgrade Trevor’s birthday a little bit more, so she invited the whole school.

RIDE students don’t care about who the owner of the party is, they just wanna ball and vibe.

So immediately she posted on the campus official group that her kiddo is celebrating his 16th, she got the responses she wanted immediately.

Everyone’s coming. Everyone.

She had booked the Plaza for the shit, and by 8pm, party will kickoff.

It’s Friday, and RIDE tests ends today, so it’s a Thank Gawd It’s Friday mood.

More crowd, more fun.

Trinidad was grinning as she came down from her helicopter at the airfield.

She didn’t come with Cove today cos that fucker seems like he has something occupying his time again, and it can only be Stacy.

As she climbed out, she saw Elmira and Roxy on the field too.

Their copter is just flying back to the sky, meaning they’re just arriving too.

Roxy’s eyes are full of resentment towards Trinidad, but she doesn’t care. Even Elmira is hateful, but again, who cares?

She has braced herself for whatever is gonna happen if Roxy decides to open her secret.

So she just walked off nonchalantly.

“I can’t believe that bîtch is planning a party after doing this to me,” Roxy muttered, adjusting her walking stick under her arm. “I’m sure she sent those Aussies to do this to me, but shame on her, I didn’t die. She better be ready for me in this campus.”

“Sis, shall we disgrace her at the party tonight? You said her secret is shameful enough to break screens.” Elmira chirped.

“If I’m gonna disgrace her, I’ll be the one to call the party. I won’t disgrace her in another person’s party. I’ll make it classy and unforgettable.” Roxy replied stiffly.

The next copter to land was Jeremy’s, and when he came down looking grim, DIAMONDS among the students nearly screamed their heads off.

His guards have doubled, so now, no one can get even ten meters close to him. They could only scream from afar.

His eyes clashed with Elmira’s, and Elmira’s hateful expression doubled.

No, it tripled.

“Let’s go,” she helped Elmira with her walking stick, and they stepped away.

—

[Mass Comm Lounge]

“Hurray!!!” The girls screamed, bringing their coffee mugs together to clink and drink.

They’re right in the middle of the lounge, grinning.

“Welcome back, goth barbie! I missed you!” Kehlani pouted.

“You dare not miss me!” Stacy winked happily.

“The next time you go on a strange seclusion without informing us, I’ll set your butt on fire!” Tania glared.

“Yes mommy!” Stacy grinned.

“Gawd, I love y’all!” Tasha gathered them all in her arms.

“I missed Glitz!” Stacy pouted.

“When that lunatic Cove came to campus bleeding, it’s about you, isn’t it? Maybe you had a fight, and you decided to go into seclusion, and he went feral?” Tania said.

“Stay in the dark!” Stacy squeezed her face cutely.

“Unfair!” Kehlani and Tasha chorused, and another laughter broke out.

Then… A thud sounded on their table, and they looked up to see Trinidad.

She dropped a flyer on their table actually… for Trevor’s birthday.

“Make sure you come, Tania. You’d love what I’m gonna show you.” She said briefly and left.

“She talked to me? Did something possess her?” Tania muttered.

“Trini is cool, actually!” Kehlani said.

“Trini?” Tasha blinked.

“She once called me Kelly, so yeah…” Kehlani shrugged.

“Trinidad is cool, seriously.” Stacy said, and the twins eyes snapped to her at the same time.

“You didn’t just say that!”

“Deal with it!” Stacy smiled, picking her buzzing phone. “We’re attending Trevor’s party, y’all.”

And with that, she left the lounge to go reply her texts.

Zendaya quickly slid behind the lounge door when she saw her coming. She has actually been watching her from the window.

Stacy strolled down the hall, and Zendaya’s evil smile formed. “You have no idea what’s coming to eat you up, Stacy.”

She clicked her tongue and left the corner, only to meet Elmira and Roxy in the front.

She froze, moving back, and Roxy pressed her walking stick closer.

Zendaya shifted again.

“You’re coming to the party, right?” She whispered.

Elmira smiled behind.

—

Stacy actually received Cove’s text, and that’s why she left the lounge to have her privacy.

As she walked the long hall, she read….

Thiago: Having fun?

Instead of replying, she decided to call, but before she could call, his call buzzed on her phone like he’s waiting her.

Smiling, she picked fast.

“Hey, why’d call me?” She rested on the wall, blushing.

“I can’t?” His voice hit her eardrums deeply, resonating.

She knew he had a deep, tantalizing bass voice, but on phone? It’s more seductive.

“What are you doing right now?” She asked, biting her lip.

“Thinking about you,” he replied, and her blush got redder with heat.

Her chest thumped.

“Are you done with your last test? Can I come over to your Major hall?” She asked.

She was still waiting for his reply when she started walking away from that hallway, and unexpectedly, Jeremy appeared from nowhere.

He’s on his way to his Private Lounge, and Stacy quickly moved out of the way. He didn’t even look at her.

He walked past indifferently with his guards, and Stacy returned to her phone, but the call has already been cut. She blinked.

“I don’t remember ending it,” she muttered, and almost immediately, a paper note flew with the air and landed right beside her heel.

Her eyes stretched, cos this kinda paper is the exact one Her Excellency wrote to her with.

She looked around, trying to figure out where it came from, but there’s no one else with her.

Skeptically, she picked the paper.

It’s another blood note from the anonymous Her Excellency.

→Second warning, and it’d be the last. And I’m doing this again cos you have a pretty face, and I don’t want it to wrinkle later cos of depression. Thiago is a great actor who’d even cry for you to get what he wants! Has he cried for you before? Gawd! Wait for that stage and you’ll fall into deception! As insurmountable as his deranged pride is, if he wants something, he’d pretend to crumble at your feet just to get it, and once he’s done, you’ll end up getting burnt by his manic fire. HE’S A MANIPULATOR!

Immediately Stacy finished reading, someone took the note from her, and she whipped around to meet the cold eyes of Cove who’s now staring deviantly at the note.

He actually cut the call cos he wanted to come meet her himself.

As he read through, he smirked, bones hardening.

“I trust you, Thiago.” Stacy said, breaking through his stare.

He looked up, and she hugged him, resting her head on his chest.

Cove set the note on fire with a matchstick, and the paper was burning on the floor as he hugged her back tightly.

He shut his eyes, inhaling her pink rose scent from her neck.

From the glass wall of his private lounge, Jeremy watched with his two hands pocketed.

—

[6PM, No Sleep Garage]

Trevor is at the verge of madness already. No, cancel that. He’s running mad for real.

When Trinidad came to get him to come take a look at his gift, he expected a car cos he asked for a car, but he didn’t expect two!

Trinidad bought him a Rolls Royce, and Cove bought him a Lambo.

Even Matteo booked him a vacation at a Island as promised.

And Stacy gave him a debit card to a loaded account.

Trevor was crying like a baby as he climbed the car trunks one after the other, sounded the honks repeatedly, kissed the card and hugged the vacation board.

Nearly all his classmates are here too, watching with envy, and his numerous crushes who’re cheering him up and popping champagne.

Trinidad said she’s still gonna take him out at 8. He doesn’t know it’s to his party, and that’s still an upcoming surprise he’s not ready for.

Everyone drank alcohol, bathing him in it and popping more champagne.

“I still can’t believe this,” he said dramatically….”Can someone shoot me to death? I’ve fulfilled my lifelong wishes.” He sniffled, hugging Matteo.

“You deserve it,” Matteo said gloomily, trying to act right.

“Wizard…I’m so grateful! Even if you later turn out to be a criminal, we’ll go to jail together!” He hugged Cove who didn’t return it.

“Arsehole.” Cove muttered.

“Stacy….” Trevor faced her, and Stacy smiled drunkenly.

She hasn’t even had more than a cup and is already tipsy.

“Whenever she gets clearheaded, you can thank her.” Cove said, lifting her to his arms. He took her in.

“T-girl!” Trevor hugged her so tight she nearly fell.

“Trevor!” Her eyes widened.

The classmates all blinked in surprise, wondering what’s going on.

Matteo blinked too.

—

[Inside]

The garage extra room got upgraded too, and now there’s a resting bed and better sofas.

Stacy was talking gibberish as she entered the room with Cove behind her. She came down from his arms by herself, and he just let her.

He sat in bed slowly, and the mattress went down under his weight. From there, he watched as Stacy hugged the door, pouting.

“You didn’t even drink two cups, Dollface.” He said calmly.

“I think I’m flying… Thiago…” She left the door and swayed, sitting on the floor with funny, rolling eyes. “Gawd…I’m going to jump….” She chuckled, closing her eyes and and opening it three times.

She stood, then sat back on the ground, laughing shortly.

“Thiago,” she murmured.

“Mm,” he replied, smiling a little again, watching her intently.

“Do you remember the song…. Give me the champagne, let me feel the pain, you are my ease-pen… I think it was sang by the person who produced Champagne, so when I was drinking it, I was just thinking about it like the world is a small world…” She laughed again, laying on the floor

Cove chuckled, glad that to one else is watching this with her.

“Thiagooooo…” She drawled, standing and staggering to the wall.

She nearly hit her head, but he quickly stood and dragged her back.

“You said you wanted to go to Trevor’s party by 8. Won’t let you go anywhere if you keep being drunk.” He said.

“Thiago…” She attached her teeth to his neck, biting him softly.

“Stacy,” he held her waist….

“Thiago I love you…” She murmured… “With my life….oh my life….my head…”

Cove became motionless, his eyes flipped up, and her body stopped moving. She fell asleep.

I LOVE YOU?

Before he could even process it better, his phone rang.

He held her body to his own with an hand and picked the call with the other hand. He recognizes an Aussie line when he sees one, and he took a guess before picking.

A witchy, bold laughter filled the phone immediately, knocking his ears.

His eyes lifted. As expected.

The shrill laughter persisted till the second minute before stopping, then the voice of the witch came…

“Now I know why you’ve been enjoying your stay too much in that place, you must be having a good time fooling and playing everyone especially that pretty girl… Stacy. That naive, innocent lamb…”

“I’ll kill you,” Cove muttered dangerously, his voice a growl and a breath, harsh and deep and seriously dark.

His eyes glittered with madness.

“I heard you’re in uni, and I seriously bursted into laughter here….Uni?” She continued. “You became a university student here when you were 17. When you turned 20, you graduated uni, killed your father, went to jail, set the penitentiary on fire and escaped to Los Angeles! You’ve been in Los Angeles for five years now so you’re logically 25, and you’re posing as a 20 year old boy? Manipulator!!!!!” She yelled.

“Shelby!!!!” Cove roared, loud and pissed and insane.

“Call the name properly! It’s Her Excellency Shelby X!” The voice roared back. “Your stepsister!”

TBC.