Elena stirred awake to the soft rustle of linen against silk. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting slowly to the dim, golden light filtering though the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The room was massive, gilded ceilings, velvet curtains and mahogany floors.
It was like a palace.
Her breath caught as she shot up, trying to process the situation. The first thought that came to her was that she had been kidnapped.
She hurry to check her clothes and saw that she hasn't been touched but the spilled blood on her neck was gone.
Grabbing her shoes in her hands, she tiptoed in a quiet rush to the door of the room which was a distance away from the bed.
She heard footsteps and halt, pressing her ear against the door. Her other hand gripped the golden doorknob.
And then, just as quickly as the footsteps retreated, Elena opened the door carefully, inch by inch. The hallway stretched endlessly in both directions. She chose the way opposite to the fading footsteps and tiptoed barefoot down the corridor, hugging the wall, and counting her breaths.
Then she turned a corner, and slammed right into a wall of muscle.
Elena gasped and staggered back, blinking up. Her eyes caught him.
Up close, he looked even more dangerous. His white shirt clung to his sculpted torso, the top buttons undone, revealing a peek of a tattoo etched across his collarbone.
His jaw was sharp as sin, his gaze, those glacial blue eyes looked straight at her.
Elena froze as a vivid flash struck her memory, recalling how he shot the men in cold blood. She shrank back instinctively.
"Who..." her voice trembled hard. "Who are you?"
For a long moment, he just stared at her, then he took a single step forward.
"We met six years ago, one night... in a hotel" Axel answered, his voice low and rough.
He could see her fear, he never meant for her to see him as a monster on their first meet after all these years.
"You saved me, I never forgot your beautiful eyes" he affirmed.
Elena's lips parted, stunned. Her face contorted in a disbelief countenance.
No- it couldn't be.
His gaze flicked to her trembling lips.
"I searched for you for years, Elena" he added. "And now, I found you"his words felt overwhelming for her.
Everything inside her turned ice.
Of course, she could never forget that night. Everything she had was taken away from her.
Elena's knees nearly gave out.
"You..." she whispered. "You're that man?"
Axel looked straight at her, not denying it.
The truth slammed into Elena like a bullet. She stared at those molten gold eyes, her mouth agape.
Her twins, their eyes are just like his.
She backed up, breathing hard, her palm to her mouth not daring to let out the secret.
He's their father!
---
"Have you found her?"Damien asked, anxious and upset.
One of the men he has sent to fetch Elena at the airport shook his head in guilt. They have been waiting for her at the airport and could not find her.
Dorcas rushed in, stupefied. "What happened?" she questioned.
"Why aren't you with Elena?" Damien asked, looking upset and worried now.
"She asked me to arrive first to take care of things" Dorcas explained, perplexed.
Damien looked more anxious now, he dialed Elena's phone again, hoping this time she picks up. But the phone rings again with no answer.
"Do you think we should inform the police?" Dorcas suggested. "It isn't possible that anyone knew of her arrival"
"No" Damien replied quickly.
He has kept it a secret. Besides, no one knew that she left the country, they probably thought she died.
"I'll find her" Damien affirmed and get into the car, leaving Dorcas standing with the men, looking helpless and confused.
...
Elena sat on the chair, her legs shaking trembly, her face leaned down, not daring to stare at him, her mind in a bit of disarray.
Without being told, Alfonso led the rest of the men out of the room, leaving Axel with her.
He took his seat opposite her, his eyes observing her keenly. He could see her fear and anxiety.
It was normal to feel that way, after anyone saw all that.
"I haven't introduced myself properly" he said, gently.
Elena raised her head a little. "Huh?"
"My name is Axel Moretti" He introduced with a smile.
It made Elena stare for a moment, it feels so magnetic, and harmless... sincere. If she hasn't seen him held a gun, she would have been fooled.
"What do you want with me?" she asked, trying to sound bold but her voice cracked a bit.
Axel paused, he has planned this meet differently. But now, he has to think of a good way to impress her.
"How about we take it slow? First, you stay here until I deal with few things. Then we will have dinner together"he said instead.
Elena immediately sprung up. "What? I don't want to stay here. You kidnapped me!" she yelped.
"That wasn't my intention" Axel stood up after her, moving close.
She took a retreating step back but the chair behind her stopped her and she fall back on it.
Axel trapped her before she could get up again, when Elena looked up, his face was too close. She recoiled back, her breath hitched.
"You need to relax, I will be back" his lips was parted in a grin.
Before Elena could protest again, he planted a peck on her lips and move away.
When Axel got outside, Alfonso hurry to him, the car door was opened by one of the men standing in wait.
"Make sure she doesn't escape, and no one touches her" he said, stopping to warn.
Alfonso nodded quickly. He wanted to get into the front seat but Axel stopped him.
"You stay and take care of her"he said and got into the car.
It drove off with two cars behind him and the rest of the men bowed low.
Elena heard the cars drove out, she quickly rushed out to see if she can escape again and run into Alfonso who was just getting back in.
"Please tell me if you need anything, Boss's wife" he said.
Elena furrowed hard. "I'm not your Boss's wife" she fired.
Alfonso paused not sure how to deal with her, the ladies he had dealt with in the past were criminals, and he usually speak to them with his gun.
"Okay, Boss's wife" he replied instead.
Elena gasped angrily, wanting to yell at him but her eyes flashed to his pocket and she imagined a gun hiding in there.
She needed to get out of here soon. Her babies are waiting for her.
Alfonso stood at the door, and the other men moved to different part of the house, taking a position.
Left with no choice, Elena backed up and went back upstairs, hoping and praying that Damien find her soon.