Twenty-Eight

Madam Luciana came back home looking tired. She heaved a sigh as she dropped her bag and made her way to the bathroom. Cleaning herself up, she hummed as it felt good on her skin.

Having finished cleaning herself up, she came out of the bathroom with a towel tied around her, using another towel to clean her hair.

And then she heard her phone ringing.

She walked to her bag and picked it up, answering the call even if it was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"I have found the person you are looking for"

*

Crystal's legs felt so weak in his arms, happy to find somewhere warm and cozy, to simply enjoy the sunshine and stay right there. Her brain feels as if it's been on a treadmill and it wants so much to press stop. Her body needs to feel another body....his body... to cuddle, to feel safe, to feel the warmth of a lover.

Everything about her, from the muscular aches to the emotional pull toward lethargy, this fatigue, overwhelms - yet this is a world that has no empathy for such matters. All that appears to count is how much we got paid more than the actual work done or feats achieved.

Her body...her brain....her tired tired soul, can testify that she had worked and fought at full tilt for so very very long. The truth is, in this state, in terms of her biological capacity and energy stores, she couldn't afford to care about all the things she had been caring so very deeply about. It isn't kind to run a horse into the ground and it isn't kind to do it to a human either.

It was hard but still she tried.

She felt wanting to end her life because she didn't have a life....it was all a sham. She felt....

Dead....shattered.....torn.....useless.....hopeless

But in his arms she felt....

Alive....healed....mended.....useful.....and hopeful.

She was shaking....yes but for the first time in her life she felt she could trust life once more.

Because of him.

She couldn't help but snuggle in, wanting to get more but couldn't get more the more she tried. It felt like an unending maze.

She would never get enough of him.

*

She was still shivering even in her sleep. He closed his eyes, wanting some much to control his anger but it wasn't at all working. He kissed her forehead and quietly tries to get her hands off him.

But she didn't budge, instead she held him more tighter than before.

"Sunshine" He whispered, but she didn't answer.

He removed her hair from her face and he saw she was still asleep.

How can her grip be too strong?

He hugged her again and sighed, his head filled with thoughts.

He smiled, stroking her hair softly.

He had an idea.

*

Madam Luciana sighed as she got out of her car and walked into the house. She entered the living room and looked around, taking in in the house.

The guard who has showed her in, took her to a dark room and closed the door.

"What do you want?"

"I found her again and i want to get her back"

"No need, i know where she is. I won't lie she is a beauty despite the maltreatment you gave her.

"I tried my best"

" I can't rely on you anymore to get my job done. It is high time i get more serious. Time is ticking and i don't want to lose much time"

"People are still after her aside from us"

"Yes i know. And that is why i want to take things seriously. It is high time i get what belongs to me. But first of all i will have to get rid of someone who seems to be an obstacle in my path"

"Who?"

"Justin Damon" He said, lighting up a cigarette he had picked up from the table.

"But that is the Maxwell's son; the song of a business tycoon"

"You see why at times i think you are foolish. Why would you know when she has gone to school under your nose. Fool!"

"The girl is too smart"

"And that is why i say you are foolish. He is going to be a big problem for me because it seems he has something for Crystal"

"The Damon's son?"

"Yes"

"But that should be good news, it will be easier to get what we wanted"

"No Luciana. I know what i saw in his eyes. He would go to any length to protect the girl. And that is why i need to get back to Maxwell to tame his son. We need to blackmail him and get rid of him once and for all. I have to ruin what they have between them before i can get to her."

"And i know just how to get to her. Get ready for what is coming at you Crystal" He smiled as he got up, walking to the light as he bent down so their eyes met.

"Very soon, i Nathaniel will get what was meant for me, not that pathetic sister of mine. Just watch as i crush her to pieces" He smiled again as he stood up, Luciana looking at him as a smile appeared on her face"

Very soon Crystal, very soon.