Reckless – Episode 83&84

RECKLESS

Reckless – Episode 83&84

→ 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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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

[A Church, 9PM]

Even lost ghosts can’t suddenly think of this place as their hiding place. Places of secrecy are supposed to be dark, shadowy, and secretive.

But this church is only a few inches away from the largest supermarket in LA. It’s a well-known church, planted behind a wide, rusty gate.

Cypress and pine trees surrounded the environment, some leaning over the fences, and they’re blowing cool, refreshing air around.

Normally, the Priest would be receiving air at the balcony beside the sanctuary now, but he’s not there.

The gate is wide opened though, and members are coming in to ask for his usual counseling, but the alter servants replies remained the same; Priest is on a sudden spiritual trip.

Since the Priest is fond of taking impromptu trips at times, the members didn’t suspect anything.

The alter servants are the ones attending cordially to the members.

They look normal, but they’re shaking under their clothes cos if any of them moves funny, their blood would paint the pinewood floors.

At the last railings of the church, Eleven and Ten stood like warriors, gun intact in their pockets and eyes scanning the alter servants at the base for any foul play.

A wooden net-like panel from the ceiling covered their faces, so none of the members can see them.

But the alter servants are aware of their presence, and the more they think about the fact that they can die anytime from now, the more fearful they become cos…

They’ve heard the news about Thiago X, and what he can do.

On that railings, Ten faced Eleven, their gazes holding equal level of poison. “They know how to behave good,” Ten said.

Eleven smirked, dragging his eyes back to the base to scan the members receiving counselling.

He scoffed at the Mary statue not far from the sacred alter.

“Who wouldn’t stay good at the mention of Thiago?”

“I’ll go check how it’s going in the other room.” Ten said

Eleven nodded, and Ten disappeared down the back railings.

—

The donation room of the church is in total darkness, but even in the darkness, the grunts of a male could be heard—low and distorted.

For three long minutes, the grunting refused to stop, and as if to respond to it, a switch sounded, and a lone light came on from the wall.

Bright enough to brighten only a part of the room where the Priest is on the floor, arms tied behind him and a gag hanging hard between his teeth.

He’s not even struggling to get free cos it’s impossible anyways, but he’s struggling to say something, which is why he has been grunting.

He’s got folds all-over his face, even on the cheek. He’s nearly potbellied, but gawd saved him.

The single light might have shone only on him, but slight rays of it reached the other side of the wall where a tall shadow stood.

The fire from his cigarette looked like a flying ember in the dim light, and his hand is still up the wall where he had touched the switch.

Smokes from the cigar curled up like evil spirits.

He let go of the switch, his presence choky as he took slow steps into the light in the middle. His shadow looked intimidating on the ground

He crouched, and the lights shone on one part of his face.

He looks like a different person—like the former Cove had been a play which is actually true.

The Cove he has been acting has disappeared from his bloodstream now. This is Thiago, the real him.

The little specks of warmth in his eyes whenever he was with Stacy is now gone. His coldness doubled. Like an unforgivable sin, he smirked.

The dangerous smokes hit the Priest’s face, and the man struggled to cough with the black gag.

“Can you pray for my half-sister Shelby?” Cove nodded at the Priest. “Pray to your gawd on her behalf and ask your gawd for long life for her cos she made wanted in the whole world. Suddenly, I’m popular again, and now everyone knows my face.”

Again, the helpless Priest struggled to talk. Nothing intelligible came out. It’s like a baby trying to force out his first sentence.

Cove ripped the gag away from his mouth, and the Priest gasped for air.

“I think you need the prayers more! You should pray for redemption and forgiveness of sins! You can still be saved! Believe me! Mother Mary won’t forsake you!”

Cove gave him a blank stare for a second like a boring Broadway show, then he laughed shortly. It was humorless, dark, and hollowed like it didn’t come from his chest.

It sounded like it was coming from his messed up head.

The Priest watched him quietly till his laughter stopped.

“It’s Mother Mary? I forgot this is a catholic church, my bad.” He dragged smokes into his lungs. “But you thinking I believe in anything is actually a proof that you’re a dîck. Mother Mary? Gawd? Do they really exist?” He looked him in the eye.

“You can still be saved, Thiago X. You were born in sin, your family history is the darkest, but believe me…gawd loves sinners…” The Priest continued his preaching.

“Why didn’t your gawd descend to save you when I entered here and captured you and ordered your alter servants to act like you’re on a trip?” Cove’s voice fell in pitch.

Now, the Priest went mute.

“I should kill you for polluting my special ears, but I don’t fancy using guns, and I can’t set you on fire cos that’d attract unwanted suspicion. I hate choking people to death cos it’s too simple. You’re so damn lucky…” Cove continued.

“Shelby would like you. That bîtch doesn’t joke witch church, and now she wants me gone. Tough.”

Ten entered the room, and Cove rose gallantly.

“The chaos will only grow larger. Shelby will keep pouring fuel in the fire, we can’t stay here too long. I think we have to fly out of this city soon.” Ten said.

“I still have a week left, and I won’t leave this city just because Shelby wants it. I’ll leave when I want.” Cove glared. “Get me my laptop.”

Ten went ahead to get the laptop, and Cove sat on the only chair in the room, opening the laptop to complete work on his flight discretion.

“But, T…” Ten said.

Cove didn’t reply.

He didn’t stop working on his system too. His fingers moved on the keys madly fast like he’s a robot.

Now his typing speed is faster.

This is his real speed.

His breathings are irregular. It’s not flowing well, and it’s obviously because of her absence.

Only Satan knows how he’d hold up when he finally flies out.

“Stacy, Trevor and Trinidad… Matteo too.” Ten continued.

Cove still didn’t reply, so Ten went totally silent.

Cove switched to his OBSCURE lens on his laptop, selecting Stacy’s account. Her face came to view.

He saw her in her room at her father’s mansion.

She’s crying under the sheets.

His eyes did that twitch twice.

“Find out why she’s in tears,” he told Ten. “And waste whoever is the cause of it even if it’s her father.”

Ten took a slight bow and rushed out of the room.

The Priest on the ground grunted again, uncomfortably.

—

[Roxy’s Atelier]

Elmira sat on the couch, legs mounted as she watched Roxy paint canvas by the wall.

Roxy is painting a lion and it’s cub, and even though Elmira is staring at it, her mind is elsewhere. She took one of Roxy’s clean breaths tom-tom on the table and unwrapped, throwing it in her mouth

“Miss your family?” Roxy asked from the front of her canvas.

She didn’t even look at Elmira as she asked the question.

Her head is still red. It’d take years for the paint to peel off no matter the sick money her father spends. Also, her skin is still full of scars and unhealed wounds from the beatings, and those will take years to heal completely too.

Her clutches is still under her arm as she painted, cos she’s still not balanced well on the ground. She still needs it to walk.

Elmira looked up at her, resting her chin on her knuckle.

“Why would I be missing my family? It’s my mum’s fault for selling Jeremy out for money. I’d have tried to pity him, but when he was rich, acting as Dorian, did he remember me as his twin? No. That bastard couldn’t even send me a penny! So….no. mum deserves what’s happening to her right now, and Jeremy deserves even more. Kaylee should kill him.”

Roxy chuckled, putting finishing touches on what she’s canvassing. “I’m sure reporters would have fleeted your place right now, waiting for you to come give your piece. Reporters will have a long week gathering sweet news.”

“Reason why I came here,” Elmira sighed, picking another TomTom. “I don’t wanna handle reporters right now. I have nothing to say to them.”

“I’ll tell my dad to send his guards to chase the reporters away from your place,” Roxy said, finally facing her. Her face looks drawn out of an horror story. “After all, you’re my adopted sister.”

“Thank you, sis.” Elmira smiled.

Roxy sat in front of her and opened a wrap of Cocaine which she brought to her nose to sniff.

“Easy,” Elmira advised.

“How did the contract go that day? Gist me.” Roxy urged.

Elmira sat upright, elbows resting on her knees. “Last year January, mum got a call from San Francisco, and a private jet was sent to fly her over, so I followed her to that city. Getting there, we found out it was Kaylee Wesley who had summoned us.”

“She had mistakenly killed Lynn and a taxi driver, and she wants to cover it up and make Jeremy act like her comatose son. In return, she’d forget about my mom’s loan debt. The rule for I and mum was that we must become strangers to Jeremy. We mustn’t interact or even look at him if we see him. She promised to sponsor my uni and she put me in RIDE last year. But that stingy bîtch only sponsored first semester before I met you and Trinidad, and you both took over my sponsoring from second semester.”

Roxy nodded.

“For your brother to not spend on you when he was acting as Dorian, it just means it was part of the contract to not spend a dime from Kaylee’s money on his family.”

“I don’t care, Roxy!” Elmira stood. “I don’t care! He’s smart! He could have sent constant money without making Kaylee suspect, but he abandoned mum and I. Mum might deserve his abandonment but not me!”

“Fine, fine…” Roxy raised her hands in surrender. “Enough of your shattered family drama.”

“Yeah, enough of it,” Elmira smirked. “It’s hightime you reveal Trinidad’s secret to me!”

Roxy laughed loudly, the sound deeply unsettling. “That’s my own personal trump card. You’ll only know about it when I decide to reveal it to the public.”

“I am your best friend, not the public!” Elmira snapped.

Roxy’s next sentence was interrupted by the entry of someone else, and their necks turned to look.

Zendaya walked in powerfully, her heels knocking the ground. She picked a tomtom from the table, unwrapped and placed it on her tongue without talking to them.

“I couldn’t come to the Plaza party that night cos I was busy, but now that I’m here, let’s make it worth it,” she shrugged, raising her brows. “Why not welcome me to your circle?”

Roxy smiled like a witcher.

Elmira scoffed in agreement.

“What should we be? Champz Girls?” Zendaya shrugged.

“Welcome to the circle,” Roxy kept up her witchy smile.

“I have nothing to say to you. Sit if you want.” Elmira scoffed.

Zendaya smiled widely, feeling like she finally found her deserved circle.

“The ongoing chaos is nothing compared to the upcoming one next week.” She said.

“Now I’m interested,” Elmira blinked.

“You’re a bad bi+ch, Zendaya Brown.” Roxy laughed interestedly.

“Wait for it. Now it’s Stacy’s turn to shed tears. Tania will cry too for supporting Stacy the most.” Zendaya promised wickedly.

—

[Police Station]

Two cases are heavy on the police table the most, and it’s so easy to make guesses about them.

Cove/Thiago X case.

Jeremy/Dorian/Lynn case.

Though, the Lynn in Jeremy’s case hasn’t been confirmed. It’d only be confirmed once Scott and his family reaches the well in San Francisco.

Trinidad and Trevor just finished their questioning with the cops, and the fuckers are liars.

They said they weren’t gonna spend more than an hour, but they’ve been here for five hours, asking questions and getting scrutinized.

Trinidad felt like her arse hurts as they finally stood. They’ve been sitting for too long.

“Hide well, ice prince. Don’t even let me catch your headlights,” she muttered. “Wonder how Stacy is doing.” She sighed.

“You should worry about yourself too, you look pale!” Trevor said.

Trinidad looked at the time, seeing it’s past 11pm.

She brought a pill bottle out of her pocket and shook one to her palm, then swallowed it without water.

“That’s flu drug,” she told Trevor. “I get cold easily these days.”

Trevor instantly took off his jacket and gave it to her.

“Don’t try to reject it. You might be taller than me now, but in few years, I’ll grow taller, so manage it.”

With a smile, Trinidad took it and put it on, roughing his hair.

“Thank you, Trevor.”

“Do you think Wizard is gonna be found?” He asked earnestly.

Trinidad scoffed. “Your brother isn’t just Wizard for fun. You don’t hear his family name? They’re not even close to humans in that family, and him? He’s ultra, so I’m sure he’s hiding in am unsuspected place and watching the chaos. Catching him is like a dream.” Trinidad explained.

Trevor nodded, and as they head out of the station, they could see different batches of cops going out in different cars, switching duties and papers, renewing arrest warrant all because of Cove. Good luck to them.

But…in the questioning room made of glass, Jeremy is inside, cuffed wrists on the table and face unapologetic like he’s proud of what he did.

Anita and Matteo are trying to enter the room, but Kaylee made sure the cops won’t allow it.

Kaylee herself is sitting majestically at the back, still crying so much.

Pity works faster here. She needs to cry harder to gain pity.

Half of the cops are looking at her with pitiful eyes. Such good, nice woman whose real son got locked up in an attic since last year.

She has been living with a fake doppelganger.

She didn’t deserve it.

“Jeremy!” Anita stomped her palms on the glass of the room, but the room is soundproof.

They can hear what Jeremy is saying inside through the speakers on the wall, but Jeremy can’t hear them, so she’s just screaming uselessly.

“Jeremy!! Jeremy you didn’t do it!!!! Why do you keep saying you did it!!!!! Are you trying to have me killed? Huh? Jeremy please! Tell them the truth! It’s all Kaylee!!! Kaylee and her son started this!!! Jeremy!!!!”

“Son!” Matteo added. “I know we’re just meeting, but it can’t end like this! You can’t end up in jail or death sentence! Just tell them you’re innocent and I promise to borrow loans from everyone I know and make sure you win the case even if it costs my life! Say you’re innocent and let’s take it to court!!!”

Matteo cried harder than Anita as he slammed the wall glass too.

But Jeremy ain’t hearing a thing from inside the room.

“Yeah. I knocked Dorian to coma and mistakenly killed Lynn in the process. I even killed a taxi driver too. I buried them in the well and locked Dorian in the attic just to act like him. Court? That’d be unnecessary. I admit everything I did so just throw me in jail already.” He said to the interrogators expressionlessly.

“No…. Jeremy no!!!” Anita hit the wall harder, using her haad too.

“Son! You can’t do this! Please give me the chance to know you! I can’t believe you were paying me per minute for Cove’s time back then and I had no clue you were my son!!! Please don’t do this to us!!” Matteo cried like a child.

“Aren’t you the boss to the wanted criminal Thiago?” A cop said. “Now you’re a father to the second criminal Jeremy? What a man.”

“What do you mean by that?” Matteo followed the cop. “What do you mean by that? My son is in there, lying on himself!!!” He yelled, grabbing the cops collar so hard.

“What do you mean!!!”

Taking the opportunity, Anita rushed to Kaylee and dragged her legs, pulling her down from her chair.

“Woman!” Kaylee shouted.

“You wench!!! Destroying my son was your goal from the get go, right? This was your plan from the start!!! I promise you I’ll get back at you!!! You won’t escape my wrath! The top one person you shouldn’t mess with is a wounded mother! I had my twins in hardship and you can’t take my son from me! I’m going to kill you!!!”

Kaylee didn’t touch her, she just resumed crying loud, and the cops sprang into action.

They roughly dragged Anita away from her.

“Is it a sin to be nice? Is it a sin that my son is nice too? Why do you want us down bad?” Kaylee cried loudly.

Anita was handcuffed, and as the metal snapped around her wrist, fresh tears sprang.

Matteo was handcuffed too, and both were thrown into the holding cell.

“Matteo….” Trevor muttered where he’s standing with Trinidad.

“I once revoked Kaylee’s order when Cove was arrested, I won’t be able to do it again cos this ain’t my dad’s jurisdiction.” Trinidad said.

She left the station with Trevor, and outside is worse.

DIAMONDS are everywhere. Front, back, right and left side of the station with their cardboards raised.

They’re silent, but they all have tears on their faces, and the words on their cardboards spoke for them…

• JAIL JEREMY WOLFE!

• OUR IDOL DORIAN AND HIS MOTHER MUSTN’T SUFFER IN VAIN!

• KILL JEREMY WOLFE!

• LISTEN TO THE CRIES OF DIAMONDS!

• JEREMY HAS TO BE JAILED!

• THROW THE MONKEY BEHIND BARS! DESTROY HIS FACE!!

• HE DOESN’T DESERVE TO BE RIRI’S DOPPELGANGER!

• KILL THE BASTARD!!

Trinidad couldn’t even read much before proceeding to her bike with Trevor, sighing.

“The end of this case is obvious,” she muttered. “Jeremy can’t escape jail.”

—

[San Francisco, 12PM]

Locating the well in the reserve forest wasn’t very hard, but digging them out was the task.

Jeremy didn’t mention the well he buried Lynn in, and there are several wells, so Silas had to get people to dig all the well in the area.

Scott stood at the far behind, finger in his mouth as he watched the digging.

There are more than thirty burly big men digging, and they haven’t even gotten anywhere cos they’re all still digging wet loamy sand.

Silas stayed close to the diggers, watching under his evil glasses.

Kane, Owen and Reid stood in the middle, and as much as they need to talk right now, it’s not advisable cos they can’t afford to alert Silas.

Originally, they came to Young mansion to capture Silas, but when they heard about Lynn, they had planned to finish tackling Silas and then focus on searching for Lynn, and now when they’re close to subduing Silas, Lynn is inside a well?

Kane’s eyes couldn’t leave Scott.

He knew he hated to see Scott’s tears, but this one is on another level. He can’t even think straight.

And he’s not allowed to console him cos Silas is here. Even in the absence of Silas, Scott wouldn’t allow him near cos he dared to call their intimacy at the Plaza park a mistake.

He felt a imaginary stab on his chest, but it’s not supposed to be this way, right? He’s not gay.

Scott is still at the far back, shaking with his fingers inside his mouth which he’s biting nervously.

As if to worsen the situation, the wide skies opened, and a light shower of rain started, wetting the trees and soil, soaking everyone.

And from the seventh well, human skull was finally dug out with the skeletal parts of the forelegs.

“Here!!” The diggers shouted.

It was Scott who ran forward first before Silas and the rest.

He didn’t even have to touch it. “No, this ain’t Lynn. Lynn’s forelegs ain’t this long. Lynn is …. She’s…s-short.” He stuttered, feeling so sick already.

“That’s right,” Silas said behind. “This ain’t Lynn’s skeleton.” Silas supported behind him. “My daughter isn’t tall.”

“Here!!!” The diggers of the tenth well hollered, again,

Scott rushed there before anyone.

Right there, lay a smaller skull in the muddy soil. Shorter forelegs and limbs. Shorter fingers and toes, shorter chest bones.

The neck bone has deep scratches—scratches as a result of the tight turtleneck abuse from Silas.

It’s all complete, and as the skeletal parts stared back at Scott, he fell on his knees, his shakiness going beyond normal. He’d shake off his life if he continues like this.

He picked up her skull, his tears falling hotly on it as he hugged it to his chest, screaming…

“Lynn!!!! Evelynn!!!!”

Silas went on his knees beside him too, his glasses falling from his eyes to the mud. He rolled in the mud.

“This can’t be real…no…this can’t be here …dug out from that bold well!!!”

“Darling,” Owen went down beside him, caressing his shoulders and playing goodwife. “You should be the one consoling Scott.”

“Scott barely slept for a night last year. He spent his nights making searches with the agencies! I spent millions on the search too! Owen, she’s my only daughter.” He lamented , looking up.

He’s not crying, but the rainwater on his face made it seem like he’s really shedding tears.

Meanwhile, Scott’s tears was hidden by the rain. He’s wailing, howling, sorrowing with the skull to his chest, his mother’s face and Lynn’s face filled his head, running him mad.

He has lost the only two people he has in this life.

What’s there to wait for?

He suddenly stood and went for the well, jumping….

“No!!!!” Owen and Silas screamed.

The diggers couldn’t catch him in time, but Kane was fast enough.

Together with Reid, he struggled to bring him back to the ground.

Scott’s sorrows blocked his breaths, and he began gasping.

“Call an ambulance!!!” A digger screamed out.

—

[Los Angeles, OphChem Cellar]

At 1am, Stacy made her rushed entry into the cellar.

Her friends spent the night at her place, but she had crawled out of bed, left them asleep and came here.

Not doing this would mean she won’t be able to get herself to sleep for the next coming days.

She needed a re-confirmation about the test, which is why she came.

There were only three strips in the pack at home, and she had used the three. They were positive, but she still wasn’t convinced.

What if the strips expired already?

She saw the expiry date, and it’s by December this year, but she had to gaslight herself that it wasn’t right.

She didn’t even turn on the cellar bulb, she used her phone flashlight to open the inner room and entered the lab. She didn’t have to search deep.

The strips packs are on top of the stacks of chemical equipments.

She picked one with an expiry date of next year, and she decided to go with that, but her saliva had barely touched the test line when the line turned bright BLUE again.

She dropped on the ground, and the pack of strips fell, flying and scattering everywhere.

She gently touched her stomach with her two stomachs, her fingers trembling on her own skin.

“I’m really… carrying a life inside me? I’m carrying Thiago’s baby inside my womb?” She sniffled, words mixing with incoherent sobs. “I got pregnant with my first s×x?”

She wiped her tears, but the shock that has been clawing at her mind made her start crying again.

Where’s Thiago? .

Where’s the father of this child? Did he leave her to her own fate already?

No, he wouldn’t.

He might be a wicked, heartless devil, but he wouldn’t do that to her. He wouldn’t run from authorities.

He wouldn’t.

She gathered herself together and stood, rushing out and climbing out of the cellar. She was dialling his line again as she left the ruins, but surprisingly, she collided with someone outside.

A strange woman stood right there, staring at the burnt building with moist face.

Judging by her pearl-adorned outfit and shinny jewelries, she’s probably a big shot. Stacy stopped.

She shone her flashlight on the woman’s face, and she immediately knew she’s Italian.

Only Italians exhibit these features.

“You must be late Ophelia’s daughter,” she said, wiping her tears.

“What are you doing here?” Stacy asked politely, trying to keep her snifflings very low.

“I was one on your late mum’s patrons,” the woman said. “Ophelia always supplied me my fertility pills, and through her help, I was able to give birth to a son. I came here ten years ago and brought the child with me to visit her, and that was when the fire accident happened.” The woman explained, smiling sadly.

“Oh…my gawd.” Stacy muttered.

“I was one of the survivors cos I was outside taking a call, but my son was inside, playing with your mum. They blew up with the others, and since then, I’ve been coming here yearly…” She continued, sighing.

“I’m so sorry,” Stacy said pitifully, but the woman just smiled wider.

“No. It’s fine. Seeing you now gave me hope. If you’re by any chance gonna take over your mum’s chemist in the future, I’ll be your number one patron of fertility pills.” She said.

Before Stacy could even reply to that, the woman turned around and walked down the plain.

Stacy took a deep breath, and that was when she realized her phone is ringing in her palm.

It’s an unknown number, but she got a gut feeling about it, and she picked it up, slowly sliding the green.

She licked her lips before talking…

“Thiago?”

“Would you love to hit me on the chest again? I sent Ten to find out who was making you cry, and he reported it was because of me.” His deep voice hit the speakers.

Soothing to her ears.

Her tears fell again, and she covered her mouth with her palm, squatting right there.

“I hate you. I just….I can’t with you anymore. You’re the wickedest human I’ve ever met.” She sobbed.

“Wipe those tears, Dollface.” He ordered, and she nodded, quickly bringing her palm to her face to wipe the warm tears away.

“Good, now smile for me.” He added.

“You can see me now?” She sniffled, looking around.

“Where’s the smile, Doll?” He repeated, calmly.

She smiled, but her chest feels heavy. It didn’t touch her heart.

“Where are you? Why didn’t you tell me all of these before? You’re wanted everywhere and….and….”

“Shhh, Dollface. Don’t speak… Just breath for me,” he cut in.

She nodded again—as if he were here in front of her.

“I miss you, Stay. Now I count my breaths or bury my face in my laptop just to concentrate, but it ain’t even helping when I can’t breathe well without you.” He said.

“I miss you too, baby. I miss you so much I wanna see you right now.” She licked her lips again.

“In a week, Dollface. I’ll see you in a week in that cellar.” He said.

“That’s too torturously long,” she started crying again. “I have a news to break to you too in person. I want to see you right now or I die….”

“You’ll find a gift in your car. Now you need to get up, get back in the car, and go home. Ten is around there and he’ll watch you till you get home. Don’t try to find him cos you won’t see him. Go home, eat well, sleep long, miss me as much as I’ll miss you, and await the weekend.” He said gently, and she stood.

Her phone is still to her ear as she walked to her waiting car and opened hurriedly, getting inside.

Inside, there’s a framed version of the picture she took with his phone under her Bonita flower tree the night they went to the bookstore.

She smiled immediately, hugging the frame to her chest tightly.

“I’ve seen the gift, and I love it,but I love you more.” She whispered.

“Now you can wait?” He asked.

“Yeah, I’ll pray everyday for weekend to arrive faster. Please stay safe for me, and our unborn—”

She stopped herself and covered her mouth with her palm.

She’s gonna break it to him in person, not over the phone.

“Just stay safe, baby.” She smiled.

“Keep that pretty face and soul intact, Dollface. I’ll call you.” He said.

And just like that, the call ended.

She dropped the phone and hugged the frame again, giggling.

—

[Private Hospital]

Dorian is still trapped in bed with Angela beside him.

Kaylee had mandated that Angela must stay beside him.

He’s currently on resting pills which seemed to make his bones soft he can’t even sit up.

He could only lay in bed and give her hateful stares.

Angela looks like she got robbed of her voice. She hasn’t said a thing.

“You now have the hots for Jeremy? Not surprising cos you’d fûck anything that had a D! Now that he’s getting jailed, how about you enter jail with him?” Dorian mocked.

Angela choose silence again.

“I can’t believe you once begged for my cóvk, saying I could fûck you instead of raping around, but I slipped into coma for a year, and you already replaced me? Just wait till I get better! You’ll be my cóvk sucker every morning! I’ll use only your mouth and even cum on plates for you to drink with bread! You know me, Angela. Now that you treated me as insignificant, I’ll make you less significant too!” He continued, veins rising on his forehead.

“Once I get out of the hospital, you’re fuckin dead!”

“After several warnings against raising your voice, you’re doing it again?” Kaylee said, entering unexpectedly.

Angela stood.

Dorian looked away.

“You should see the way DIAMONDS are fighting for you. They took it too personal and I’ve never been this honoured on your behalf. Wait till you come out of the hospital and go for your first concert…The world will go insane!” Kaylee gushed.

“DIAMONDS have always belonged to me, it’s normal they act like mine…” Dorian said glaringly. “And what’s the shit about the new richest person in the world? Shelby X? A blind whore?”

Kaylee sighed, sitting comfortably. “I only have to become President. Shelby is not even my problem. My riches will double soon. Let’s see whose net worth will top.”

“You better make it top,” Dorian continued glaring. “You dare not lose to a blind woman!”

“Trust me,” Kaylee smiled assuredly.

—

[A Week Later, OphChem Cellar]

Cove and his rogues moved here since three days ago.

They boldly made the move.

Knowing Albert is currently busy with his public appearances and Stacy won’t be coming here till her meet with Cove later today.

Cove is on his system again, the sound of his fingers tapping the keys is like a wild drum of war.

Eleven and Ten are behind him, but they don’t even understand what he’s doing. Rogues aren’t computer-literate.

Cove is currently checking OBSCURE statistics. The users are still increasing. Shelby didn’t reveal him to the world as the owner of the app cos it’d make users desert it.

That bîtch wants the app so bad she’s securing it tightly.

He left the statistics check and went to the online updates.

Thiago X – Covey Fabio.

That’s still the number one trending topic in the world.

Good.

Jeremy Wolfe – Dorian Wesley.

That’s the second trending, and tommorow, Jeremy’s sentence would be determined since he didn’t deny.

“Fool” Cove muttered. “I despise holy-in-disguise fools the most. He has lotta similarities with Shelby.”

Eleven got a message, and after checking, he smiled.

“T, the pilot is already waiting. We leave in three hours.” He said.

And almost immediately, the ladder creaked, and Stacy climbed down.

Eleven and ten stepped away from Cove immediately she stepped down the last ladder line.

She dolled herself up in a soft blue evening gown, bouncy ringlets curly hair, and light makeup.

Unguarded longing flooded her eyes the instant she saw him. All of her emotions surged to the surface at once, breaking through whatever fragile restraint she had left.

Her vision blurred as tears welled up, clinging stubbornly to her lashes before spilling over.

The moment Cove rose to his feet, it was as though something inside her snapped loose.

She ran to him, and with a small, breathless leap, she threw herself into his arms, clinging to him like she was afraid he might vanish if she didn’t hold tight enough.

He caught her easily, his hands firm as they found her, lifting her as though she weighed nothing, anchoring her against him.

She buried her face into his shoulder, her fingers curling into his clothes, holding on tenderly.

“Dolly…” he murmured, his voice, a smile ghosting his lips as he pressed it into her hair.

“Nutty,” she whispered back, the word trembling with affection, relief, and something deeper.

He breathed her in, his lips kissing against her hair again and again, each kiss gentle, lingering, like he was trying to make up for lost time.

The rogues quietly slipped out of the cellar, giving them privacy.

—

[Zendaya’s Place]

Roxy and Elmira are here with Zendaya, both looking impatiently pumped for the upcoming saga.

Zendaya promised a show, and they’re waiting for it as Zendaya dressed up for her show.

Today is Albert’s public appearance, and today is the big day.

There’ll be over hundred guards guarding him, and they couldn’t infiltrate like they did last time during Stacy’s kidnap, so this time, they’re going all in by themselves.

They hired the sharpest sniper in the world—a Japanese lady whose face is always masked, all the way from Australia. Even in the midst of thousands people, she’d single out her target and aim.

She never misses.

“Y’all should wait for me!” Zendaya smiled at the girls, and they gave her go ahead nods.

She went for the door, but opening it, she met Anita who was about to enter

“Anita?” She blinked.

“You can’t go on with the plan! Abort it…now!” Anita yelled at her face.

Zendaya let out a dark scoff, pushing her out of the way.

She stepped out, but Anita pulled her back sharply.

“Old woman!!” Zendaya yelled.

“I’ve been so caught up in my son’s shit that I didn’t even remember the shit I’ve done myself…” Anita shook her head. “Albert doesn’t deserve to die. Abort the—”

And that was the end. A rolling stick slammed her head from behind, and a little blood rolled down her forehead before she went down, hitting the ground loudly.

Elmira’s face came to view. She hung the rolling stick on her shoulder.

“Go on, Daya.” She nodded at Zendaya.

“You’re the best!” Zendaya winked, jumping in her car.

She checked her time, seeing the Fundraiser probably started thirty minutes ago.

She dialled the Sniper’s line, and the pick was instant.

“Don’t interrupt. The target is about to be in my line of sight.” The unfeeling, unsettling voice from the other end came.

Zendaya hung up compliantly and dialled her dad.

Mr. Brown might be in jail, but he’s a VIP in there anyways. He’s allowed to take calls and make them.

“The ratio?” His fat voice boomed.

“9.8. The remaining two is just for her to shoot him. Wait for news.” Zendaya reported.

—

[Fundraising Ceremony]

The platform gleamed with quiet luxury; soft lights, polished marble, and rows of the world’s richest people seated in composed elegance.

The ceremony—dedicated to orphanages across America, had already run for thirty minutes.

The first round of donations reached billions of dollars.

Now, the second round is preparing to commence.

Albert stood at the front, delivering his speech as the representative of the elite.

Cameras flashed steadily as he spoke, capturing his face from every angle.

Guards lined the hall, thick and watchful. They surrounded not just him but every high-profile guest.

Kaylee sat among the front row, smiling and clapping at the right moments. On the surface, she looked flawless, but inside, she was waiting.

Albert wrapped up after ten minutes, earning a wave of applause as he stepped down from the stage, escorted by his guards.

Everything was fine—until it wasn’t.

A bullet sliced through the air.
It struck the nearest guard to Albert.

It tore off the guard’s ear, but didn’t stop cos…

It hit Albert next…straight in his face.

Blood splashed.

Screams followed instantly. The room fell apart in seconds.

—

[OphChem Cellar]

Stacy refused to sit anywhere that’s not Cove’s laps.

Even when he was standing to cook for her, she hugged him from the back throughout, and now that he’s done cooking, she’s back to his laps.

The rogues are still out of the cellar, so it’s still just them in their own little personal world.

Stacy closed her eyes and inhaled the aroma of the delicacy through the steam rising from dishes.

She asked for peppered tahini sauce and meatballs since she loved the sauce he made at the hotel that day.

And he made just that, but he made sure the pepper was minimal so she wouldn’t start blowing her mouth.

He began feeding her, and she took each fork with joy, unable to look away from his eyes.

“You want me to gouge out my eyes as a gift for you too?” He asked seriously

“Why aren’t your eyes silver on a normal day? Why do they only change in front of fire? Or is that technological too?” She said, caressing his chest with her palm.

“My mother had heterochromia, so I guess I wanted to inherit that from her, but it failed. Also, I’m obsessed with fire, so it’s normal for my eyes to show excitement when I see it.”

“The silver is a sign of excitement?” She paused her palm on his chest.

“What do you think, Beauty?” He smiling, kissing her softly.

“No that’s Anita’s nickname for me,” she disagreed.

“What was your mum’s nickname for you?” He asked, caressing her arm.

“She’d say… Mummy. My mom called me Mummy, and I called her mum.” She grinned, but it didn’t last as she raised her glass of water to drink.

A satisfying gaze crossed Cove’s eyes, but not for long. It was fleeting.

She dropped the cup and straddled him, facing him squarely.

“Your mum, how did she die?” She asked seriously, deciding to dive into his life since she’s now full.

“She jumped in a river,” he replied casually without blinking.

And she instantly frowned.

“If you’re gonna say sorry about that, bury it.” He said.

“No no….” She shook her head. “I feel weird, like I’m getting weak suddenly. My bones, even my flesh… especially my stomach…I feel so exhausted.”

“Come lie down,” he picked her up and took her to the bed. He sat up, and her head stayed on his laps.

He began stroking her hair, and she just stayed there, unable to move. The weakness even got worse…

“Thiago, I feel so damn sleepy,” she muttered weakly.

“You’re going to really fall asleep soon, and when you wake up, you’ll feel better.” Cove responded, his tone darker now, gripping her hard.

“What do you mean?” Her whisper went lower. She got weaker.

“Think about it like getting an unwanted visitor out of you,” he whispered, glancing at the glass of water on the table. “It started the moment you drank from the glass.”

Stacy wants to gasp, but she couldn’t. What came out instead was blood.

Little blood from the middle of her soft thighs. It stained her gown badly.

“You…knew?” She forced herself to speak, and despite her weakness, her voice is broken. Badly broken.

She wanted to stand, but it feels like an invisible hand kept pushing her down, and a little groan escaped her.

The pain she’s feeling isn’t internally, it’s emotionally.

“Of course I knew,” Cove replied sickly, his caress on her hair going deeper to her scalp like a master caressing his doll. “I watch you through OBSCURE lens always, so I saw when you were running the test on the strip in the inner lab.”

“Why….??” Her weakness overshadowed her voice. “Why… would you…do that? I wanna keep the child…it’s my….my child. Our child….how could you…kill…”

“Did you forget the part where I said no child is allowed inside you? Not even a kid is allowed to share you with me, Dollface. Imagine a baby sleeping between us every night, how stupid does it sound?” He smiled, rubbing her cheeks. “So I picked the softest abortion syrup. You won’t feel pain, you’ll only feel weak and sleep off. By the time you wake up, you’ll be free and good.”

“I should have known you were incapable of feeling the moment I heard news of the hundred prisoners you killed in the penitentiary. I should have known you’re a irredeemable beast the moment you refused to tell me you love me throughout my endless confessions.” She said with her last ounce of strength, her voice falling.

Hot tears slid out of her eyes…

“You’ll thank me later, Doll. For now, wait for me. I’m going back to reclaim my lost throne, and it might take years, but I’ll surely return.” He replied like he has no heart.

Now, Stacy’s strength has failed her. She’s already sleeping.

His wristwatch beeped, meaning he has to go now if he wants to catch up with the flight.

He lowered himself and kissed her hair for one last time.

“Trinidad will be here to take care of you in two minutes, my love. Stay good, I’ll be watching from Australia.” He kissed the hair two more times.

Then, he gently lay her in bed and covered her up.

His shadow crossed the white bedsheets as he walked past under the yellow lights.

As he climbed the ladder out of the cellar, he didn’t look back.

Not even once.

TBC.

.