OUTSKIRTS – RUSTED VILLA HIDEOUT
12:40PM*
"Well, well, darling Tessa." Cathryn's voice dripped with mock sweetness as she stepped into the dimly lit villa.
Tricia sat slumped against a cracked wall, her wrists bound, eyes blindfolded, and mouth gagged. She wasn't moving—clearly unconscious again.
"You've done a good job," Cathryn said, her heels clicking against the dusty floor as she approached. "I don't want her anywhere near Hardin, so keep a close watch. If she tries to escape, end it before she even reaches the door. I'll decide her fate soon enough."
"Yes, madam," the two guards replied in unison, their voices low and rough.
Cathryn smirked, her hand brushing against Tricia's cheek in a mocking caress. "Your full payment will be delivered soon. Just don't let her slip away. Not even for a second."
She crouched down, her lips curling into a cruel smile as she studied Tricia's unconscious face. "Dear Tessa… so you dyed your black hair blonde? Cute. But no matter how you change yourself, you'll never fit beside Hardin. You weren't meant for him. You weren't meant for me."
Her expression twisted with rage. "Do you know how much it disgusts me every time I remember he threw me out of his suite because of you? Because of this… nobody?" Her nails scraped lightly against Tricia's arm, leaving faint red marks. "I swear, I feel like tearing your skin apart whenever I think of it."
Cathryn stood, her eyes burning with jealousy, but her tone shifted to a cold calm. "But no. Not yet. You're going to rot here. Starve. Break. And by the time I'm done, Hardin won't even recognize what's left of you."
With a sharp turn, she walked toward the exit, her heels echoing like a final threat. "Goodbye… darling Tessa."
The heavy iron door slammed shut, leaving only silence, the muffled sound of Tricia's weak breathing, and the looming presence of the guards who now stood watch like shadows.
RICCO MANSION*
The black car screeched to a halt at the front of the mansion. The guards stepped out immediately, dragging Mrs. Cristin roughly from the back seat. Her hair was disheveled, her face pale with fear as she struggled against their grip.
"Let me go!" she screamed, trying to free her hands. "What did I do wrong? My daughter… my daughter is going to get worried if she can't find me!" Her voice cracked, echoing in the vast courtyard as they pulled her inside.
The tall iron doors opened with a heavy creak, and the cold, lavish interior of the Ricco mansion swallowed her whole. Crystal chandeliers hung above, their glow unable to hide the chilling aura that filled the hall. The guards dragged her across the marble floor until her eyes fell on him.
"Ricco…" she whispered, her breath catching in her throat.
Don Ricco was seated on the couch like a king on his throne, legs spread wide, cigar pressed between his lips. Thick smoke curled upward, fogging the air around him. His sharp eyes lifted slowly to meet hers.
"Surprised," he said darkly, rising to his feet with slow, deliberate steps.
Mrs. Cristin's voice trembled with desperation. "Where's my daughter? I want to see her!" She rushed at him, pounding her fists against his chest with every ounce of her strength.
The guards moved forward instantly, ready to restrain her, but Ricco raised one hand, signaling them to stay back. His gaze never left her face.
"Pretending, huh?" His tone was low but deadly. "I'll give you just two minutes. If you don't tell me where you've taken Tricia, I won't hesitate—I'll hang you right here in this mansion."
Mrs. Cristin's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?" she cried, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Stop acting like you don't know!" Ricco barked, his voice booming through the hall. "Tricia is missing. She's not here, which only means you took her. You're both with the twins, aren't you?"
"No!" Mrs. Cristin's tears spilled freely down her cheeks. "I didn't take anyone, I swear it! Where's my baby? What do you mean Tricia is missing?" Her voice broke into sobs.
Ricco's lips twisted into a cruel smile as he let out a harsh laugh. He leaned close, exhaling smoke directly into her face. She coughed violently, waving her hands in front of her nose as the burning scent choked her throat.
"But why are you suddenly so interested in the girls now?" she mocked. "You clearly stated back then that you didn't want a girl child. When they were born, you didn't even carry them. You acted like they were a curse."
"But I can see their usefulness now," Ricco said coldly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her broken face. "And that's exactly why you took Tricia. So tell me—where is she?"
Her body shook as she sobbed, falling to her knees. "How am I supposed to know? I didn't take her, Ricco. Please…believe me."
Ricco tilted his head, his smirk disappearing, replaced with steel in his eyes. "Still denying?" His voice was ice.
He snapped his fingers. "Take her to the dark room."
"No!" Mrs. Cristin screamed, thrashing violently as the guards grabbed her arms again. "Ricco, what are you doing? Let me go! Drop me down! Please!"
Her pleas echoed through the grand hall as she was lifted and carried away, her cries fading with every step. Ricco stood silently, cigar smoke curling around him, his expression carved from stone as the sound of the slamming door marked her fate.
DIMLY LIT WAREHOUSE★
The warehouse reeked of smoke, sweat, and stale alcohol. Dim light bulbs hung from the ceiling, flickering occasionally like they were on the verge of dying out.
"Ahhh… harder, Cobra!" the slut moaned, her nails clawing against the dusty floor as Cobra slammed into her from behind, his rough grip on her waist unrelenting.
"I'm cumming… ahh! Faster! Harder!" she screamed, her voice echoing against the hollow steel walls.
"Yeah… right there!" she cried breathlessly. "You're hitting the spot—destroy me, beast!"
Cobra grunted, thrusting harder until both of them reached their climax. "Cum… shît!" the slut shrieked as waves of pleasure shook through her body. Cobra slapped her ass with a loud crack, then grabbed her breasts roughly before pulling out.
Her pûssy dripped wetly onto the cold concrete floor, a result of the heated session. She collapsed briefly, panting hard, then scrambled for her scattered clothes. Cobra, his face expressionless, tossed a wad of cash at her feet.
"You can go," he said flatly, his tone holding no trace of the passion he had just shown.
The slut smirked as she bent down, scooping up the bills. "I'm at service anytime," she teased, giving him a playful wink before strutting out of the warehouse, her heels clacking until the sound disappeared into silence.
The atmosphere grew heavy again. Cobra reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette. He lit it with a sharp flick of his lighter, inhaling deeply before releasing a cloud of smoke that curled upward into the darkness.
His eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with irritation. "Mrs. Cristin is sure playing a game that isn't gonna end well. We're already on part twelve, and she still hasn't shown her face. That tells me she doesn't want Tessa. If she did, she would have come to meet me here by now—and paid off her damn debts."
He took another drag, the glow of the cigarette tip briefly illuminating his scarred face. His lips curved into a sinister smirk.
"This game you're playing won't end well, Cristin," he muttered, puffing out another stream of smoke into the dim light. "You wanna live without paying up your loans? Let's see how far you get. You'll learn the hard way."
The silence of the warehouse returned, broken only by the faint hiss of the burning cigarette and the dark promise in Cobra's voice.
WHITE'S MANSION ★
The night was heavy with silence, broken only by the restless pacing of Tessa outside the mansion. Her arms were folded tightly against her chest as she walked back and forth across the stone pathway, her eyes fixed anxiously on the gates.
"Mum isn't back yet…" she muttered under her breath, her voice filled with unease. "Hope she's okay? Gawd, why did she just allow me pick up the stuff for her? And now she's not even picking my calls." She frowned, pressing her phone to her ear again.
The number you're trying to call is unavailable. Try again later.
The mechanical voice stabbed at her chest, and Tessa let out a sharp breath, gripping the phone tighter. "I'm damn worried," she whispered, her throat tightening.
"You really wanna throw the phone away?"
The deep voice came from behind. Tessa spun around, startled. It was Hardin. He had just stepped out of the mansion, his hair slightly messy, dressed in sweatpants and a black t-shirt that clung to his toned frame, showcasing his abs beneath the porch light.
"What're you doing out here?" she asked sharply, as though trying to mask her worry.
Hardin raised a brow. "It's my house. You've forgotten already?"
Tessa blinked, realizing, then muttered, "Yeah… true."
Hardin stepped closer, his hands buried in his pockets, eyes lifting to the sky. "What are you doing out here though? It's really cold, and…" He gestured upward. Dark clouds were gathering fast, the wind whistling against the trees. "Looks like it's about to rain."
"It's my mum," Tessa said quickly, her voice breaking with tension. "She said she wanted to go get something, but she's not back yet. I'm worried. I'm having this… bad feeling."
Hardin studied her for a moment before speaking softly, almost calmly. "She'll come back soon. You don't have to worry too much."
Tessa shook her head. "But it's already past twelve! The wind's getting too strong. It's not safe being out now. I can't just stand here—I'll go look for her."
"Tessa, you can't go out now." Hardin reached for her arm, trying to stop her. "Look around, the storm's coming in heavy. It's dangerous. Just… be patient a little, alright?"
But Tessa yanked her arm free, her eyes flashing with stubborn fire.
"Patience? You're telling me to be patient when my mum isn't back by this time?" Her voice rose with emotion. "I can't do that, Hardin. I just can't."
Before he could stop her, she darted down the steps and ran out through the gate. The rain had already started to fall, light drizzles tapping against her skin, but the wind was fierce, whipping at her hair and flinging leaves and debris across the road. A streak of lightning split the sky, followed by the distant roar of thunder.
"Such a stubborn brat," Hardin muttered under his breath before sprinting after her.
"Tessa!" he called, catching up to her. His hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her to stop.
"Go back! Why are you following me?" she snapped, water dripping down her face.
"I'm going with you," Hardin said firmly, his voice louder than the wind. "Let's take my car. You'll catch a cold running out here in the storm."
She hesitated, her chest heaving. The rain soaked through her clothes, chilling her skin.
"You're seriously thinking about it?" Hardin's brows furrowed as he barked, "Gawd, I'm trying to help you, girl."
Finally, she gave a small nod. "Fine… let's go."
They both rushed back through the gates. Hardin dashed inside quickly, grabbed his car keys from the table, and within seconds the roar of his engine echoed against the storm as they drove out into the night.
From an upstairs window, Mrs. White had been watching. She spotted the car's headlights vanish into the storm and hurried outside, alarm flashing across her face.
"Hardin, where are you going with her?" she cried out, her voice nearly lost in the howl of the wind.
But they were already gone. She stood in the rain for a moment, shaking her head. "Gosh… this boy. Why did he have to go out in such weather?" With a heavy sigh, she turned back into the warmth of the mansion, her face etched with worry.
ON THEIR WAY…
"I told you this was a bad idea. Look at this—damn traffic jam, it's endless." Hardin grumbled, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel in frustration.
"I didn't force you to come with me," Tessa shot back, hugging her arms against the chill in the air.
Hardin turned his head and studied her for a moment. He noticed how her shoulders trembled, the goosebumps on her bare arms obvious even in the dim streetlights. With a sigh, he reached behind the seat, pulled out a jacket, and handed it over.
"Here."
Tessa blinked, surprised, then took it slowly. "Thanks."
"You're not welcome," he muttered, his jaw tight.
"Fine then, Mr. Business," she said, rolling her eyes as she slipped into the warmth of his jacket.
Before he could reply, a blaring horn pierced through the already chaotic noise of traffic. The car behind them flashed its lights repeatedly, making it impossible to ignore.
"Who the hell keeps pressing that damn horn?" Hardin snapped, glaring into the rearview mirror. The irritating sound was already making his eardrums ache.
With irritation boiling in him, he shoved the car door open and stormed out. He marched to the vehicle behind and rapped his knuckles hard against the tinted window.
The glass slid down with a smooth mechanical whine—
"Hardin," a familiar voice said.
Hardin's eyes widened. "Cathryn? Fûck…" His shock was written all over his face.
At that exact moment, Tessa hurried out of the passenger side and approached, curiosity plastered across her face.
"It's Cathryn—hey!" she greeted, giving a small wave.
Cathryn's face twisted, her eyes darting between the two of them. Her lips parted like she wanted to speak but no words came out.
"Wait—what the fûck?" she whispered, her voice shaking with disbelief.
And before either Hardin or Tessa could react, Cathryn's eyes rolled back and she collapsed, hitting the pavement with a dull thud.