♡ BIG BAD WOLF ♡
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPzhNCi39c
♡ DAMIEN ♡
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKSilfdpOZ
"You need to sign the opening of the grand library," Martini said seriously.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb6w6sk7zy
I understood the urgency. I’d been stalling on the signatures for weeks, purely because the deal would benefit a company I was currently trying to bleed dry.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPI0aXebk4
"And," Martini continued, a hint of amusement in his eyes, "I think we need to do something about Marian."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIOXLc86QB
"She's trying to escape again?" I asked. Martini laughed, and I merely shrugged.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFK612GJst
"You have to admire the effort," I muttered.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNh1ycnvhr
"I do, but she keeps taking guns. One of these days, she’s going to shoot herself by mistake."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsjKazih3w
"It would leave a memorable scar, at least," I countered dryly. Martini grunted in disagreement, shaking his head as he peered out the window.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu4sLczV7j
"Yup. There she is," Martini chuckled.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeN44tAHlf
"She has some talent," I admitted. "And she’s a good runner." That part was undeniable. I had to drive all the way to the station yesterday just to get her crazy ass.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5jItSHhOr
Martini watched her through the glass as she argued with the guards like a woman with a death wish. He had the air of a connoisseur appreciating his favorite tragicomedy.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXHBXGenAU
Eventually, she’d get tired, lock herself in her room, and scroll through TikTok for two hours before passing out.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAwXC5dEDY
"Paolo called," Martini added. I waved him off. Officer Paolo was only going to milk the fact that he’d called me yesterday, even though I’d had eyes on her the entire time.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFkPO9J5Nc
After Martini left, satisfied that Marian had entered the house without sustaining a wound, I finished the paperwork for the Manhattan bookstore. It was the perfect front, no one ever suspects a bookstore of money laundering.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO08nw0UaUp
I retired for the evening, headed downstairs to the gym for a session before grabbing a bottle of wine and calling it a night.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcSH20mrCp
She was right there, sitting on a dining stool, focused intently on her phone. She looked up briefly, her eyes widening in a flash of panic, before she turned her head back to the screen like a malfunctioning robot. She was pretending she hadn't noticed me.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQs0QGQADt
I ignored her. Knowing how poorly she handled silence, I walked toward the gym, waiting for the inevitable. Sure enough, I heard the soft patter of feet following me.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAq8u10sW1
My lips curled into a knowing smile before I forced my expression back.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzIWXLtKWl
"Mr. Angelini," she called out. Then, louder than she probably intended "Ugh, that is such a mouthful."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcUncDqKcE
She peeked up to see if I’d heard her. I remained stoic.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCV75Ua4uV
"I'm so sorry," she pleaded, her voice dropping into a sincere tone. "I know I shouldn't have run to the station yesterday. I know it was stupid."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB9ZwSQ4Nw
She looked anything but sorry. If I didn't know better, I’d say she was proud of herself.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIIljZwCKH
"My emotions got the better of me and I just acted like..." She trailed off as I began unbuttoning my shirt. "Why are you getting naked?"
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBYJHy1AQM
I didn't bother replying. I just looked around the room. She did the same, her eyes trailing over the weights and the equipment. I could see the flicker of realization as she finally processed her surroundings.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1RgIt1eX2
"The question is," I said coolly, "are you going to keep standing there?"
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUi9TFCyXX
She took a step backward, chuckling awkwardly. "Well, I’ll just see myself out then."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0QGiCvfpz
She wrapped her hand around the door handle, pressing the electronic lock button furiously. Nothing happened.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlQ1uju3f3
She was amusing in the most devastating way possible.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoqFtRlFE3
"I hope you find it in the deepest part of your heart to forgive my... misstepping," she rushed out, still stabbing at the door controls. She moved toward me, tripping over air and nearly planting her face on the floor. She composed herself, flattened her wrinkled shirt, and went back to the button with even more desperation.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMdm1uMHzL
I shook my head and stepped toward her. She jerked her hand away. I reached out and lifted the control panel, she’d pressed it so hard she’d jammed it. I clicked the manual override, and the lock snapped open. Her mouth dropped as she mouthed a 'thank you.'
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnyqychuRU
I let go of the panel, and the door shut, locking automatically.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyaAJc8jwj
She was odd. I hadn't settled on a punishment for her little stunt yet. I knew a million ways to break a person, but she was Verdict's sister, the one person I couldn't destroy. I just needed to rattle her enough to keep her still until this mess was solved.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYPWoQHy9L
"Looks like you're locked in here with me," I said slowly.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgXa6TomV9
She shook her head as I drew closer, dropping to her knees faster than I thought possible.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2iywkZx0u
"I’m so sorry for snapping the other day,." she began. I just stared, curious to see her next move. "I shouldn’t have acted that way. I promise I’ll be a better person. I'm sorry for attempting to run away... more than once. I'm sorry for following you in here."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0dabTJ1vA
She looked around the room, frantically searching for more things to apologize for. I offered no response, simply walking past her to grab the weight plates.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj8BnTfxGa
"Just wait until the lock timer resets," I said. "You jammed the button."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2kSDldtZ3
Relief washed over her face. she scrambled back to her feet. "Okay. I'll just sit here then."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5bwy4GbAI
........
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQjidjCqit
Later that night, I groaned as I fastened my tie, my phone pressed to my ear.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnyjGp6Wlf
"How could you have lost him?" I nearly slammed the phone against the wall. Boris rarely made mistakes, but this was catastrophic. "I told you to bring him to the house. You insisted on the warehouse, and now look."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgbwJuVtjr
"I'll investigate after I deal with Zero."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9ri9q7lfQ
The business trip I’d taken two weeks ago had left a mountain of work, and my patience was at bottom level. I arrived at the docks to find Martini smiling down at Oleg, who was dangling upside down with bloodshot eyes.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIUGayzApD
*"Ha confessato?"* (Has he confessed?) I asked.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fRnp08LG0
Martini shook his head in frustration. "Still blabbering nonsense."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpmHQEMUXp
If it were up to Martini, the man would be dead. Martini preferred quick, clean ends. I preferred the torture, watching them realize there was no escape
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYehZeYZHm
"Hey, dumbass," I called out. Zero thrashed wildly. "If you stay like that for ten more minutes, the blood pressure in your brain will kill you."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L33a0xpu9
He was terrified. It was a beautiful sight. I’d caught him once before and let him go with a warning.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaE5c12jJdB
"It wasn't me, I swear, It was Snake," he shrieked.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zKruH8BmA
The underdog? Things were getting interesting. "I have no idea where the goods are, Once we hijacked the container, I was cut out of the loop."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytxFHdHUDI
He was telling the truth.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ26a7aKeEE
"Tagliate le corde." (Cut the ropes.)
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcUqUdNaoy
He started pleading as he was lowered into the water. I just smiled as his head slowly sank. A sight to behold.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCbPU7mjfm
"Quindi, dobbiamo trovare Snake," (So, we have to find Snake,) Martini concluded. I nodded.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYNJFitXhx
.....
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBAF4CSjT6
When I returned to the house, Marian was sitting on the couch, staring at the ceiling and dangling a keychain. She looked at me like I was an alien invader.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1ML7mw3wv
She shifted on the sofa, and I felt a flash of irritation. The way she sat there so comfortably in those short shorts with so many men around. I needed her out of this house. She brought a strange energy to the place, and while I might end up burning her smart mouth shut sooner than planned, she was an eyesore.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DwRO1cF0R
It felt as if her sister had dropped off the face of the earth. No leads, no rumors. She as just gone.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHd4mNMsVt
Marian’s eyes slowly trailed over my body.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCXE6fYC8m
That was another reason she needed to leave. Those eyes. She looked at me like she wanted to peel the clothes off my back. It made me... uncomfortable. She looked at me as if she wanted me naked.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvONHc1lO4
Her gaze softened as she took in my unbuttoned shirt, my disheveled hair, and the dark blood staining my shoulder. She stood up instantly, approaching me with a fearlessness that was far too fragile for this world.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiaHByjYYU
"Are you hurt?" she asked, her fingers grazing the fabric of my shirt. "Or did you hurt someone?"
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PLPFVlaSw
I didn't correct her. I let her believe the blood was from the torture.
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspBxj4Yg0T
"I don't get hurt, Marian. I hurt people."
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy13jRgRfzB
She frowned. "So you're like a Big Bad Wolf?"
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7AKb5alUI
There was genuinely no saving this woman. Big Bad Wolf, indeed.
and then Add to home screen.