AUTHOR'S POV

Caden's apartment,
02:56 am

Grace took a few steps backward-looking at the man standing in half-light in front of her with puzzled yet surprised expressions.

" Stop". Saying that he walked in light freezing Grace's feet. His eyes were on the lamp beside her which she was about to bump into.

" Scott-".

"Shish". Scott placed his index finger on his lips gesturing for her to hush before grabbing her wrist gently. " Come". He whispered and took her to his hacking room.

He closed the door behind and immediately faced her confused self.

" What are you even doing Elly? You are leaving just because you don't know who Grace is? Have you thought twice before doing it? Where would you go at this time? You don't even know anyone here". He scolded her in a whispering tone.

She spoke after making proper eye contact with him. " I'm running because I know who Grace is".

Scott's lips parted. He blinked multiple times not believing his ears. " Y- you got your memories back?". He unforeseen.

" I overheard them. I don't know who I am but I know three of your reality. Even you Scott?". Scott's gaze dropped. " How could you do this? I trusted you even more than I trusted Caden. You disappointed me. All of you did. I got caught, what are you gonna do now. Tell them about it? Cage me? Force me until your deal will be done with my family?". She questioned trying to look strong but her voice shook between the sentences.

" No". Scott breathed out. " I'm sorry. I really am.  I never wanted to be a part of it but I had no other choices". He looked up meeting her gaze. " I'm not sure but I think our deal is not with your family" Grace's eyebrows crashed together at his words.

" What do you mean?". She asked but immediately stopped. " Oh please no more lies". She said as they lost her trust.

" I'm not lying ". He shook his head. " King... He's a mafia. He also does human trafficking. Cad's sister is one of his captives and I think you were too. All I want to say is don't rush. I'll help you to escape from here but I want you to wait until you get your memories back. Because there's no escape from King. I don't want you to regret".

Grace scoffed. " I don't think I'll regret anything more than being a total fool".

"It wasn't your fault ". Scott mumbled under his breath and the silence took place between them.

" Why do you wanna help me?". She asked.

" Coz I'm guilty. I want to be free from this guilt".  He said sincerely.

" You'll betray your friends for me? ". She asked making him let out a low chuckle. " I can't believe you".

" Even I can't believe I'm doing this but again...betraying others is what I've been doing all my life". Saying that he went towards the door. " Let's go".

He peeked from the room and ushered Grace to follow her. She obeyed and when they reached the living room her gaze fell on Caden who was sleeping on the couch.

Her feet refused to move. She stopped near the couch looking at Caden emotionlessly.

" Elly. Come". Scott called after silently looking at her for a few seconds.

She nodded at Scott and after having one last glance at Caden she left the apartment along with Scott.

Using the elevator they went downstairs. Scott booked a taxi for her which soon arrived. He helped her with her luggage and pulled out a card from his pocket.

He took her palm in his and hand her the card. She shook her head but before she could say anything he spoke. " Don't deny it please. This is all I could do for you. Don't worry I won't ask you where are you heading to. I'm afraid. I may tell them".

She clenched the card in her hand before looking at Scott who opened the door of the taxi. " Scott ". She called gaining his attention.

She stepped ahead and wrapped her arms around him taking him off guard. " Thank you, Scott". She thanked. "Maybe we won't meet again. But I'll always remember you for this". She added.

Scott hesitantly hugged her back. " I'm gonna miss you terribly ". He muttered in her ear gaining silence in response. He gave a tight squeeze before pulling out.

" Do me a favor". She said blankly looking up at the building behind Scott. " Tell him... I hate him".

She said above a whisper and sat in the taxi. Scott closed the door carefully before heavy-heartedly bidding his goodbye.

The taxi started to move forward but she didn't for a once glance at him.  Still, he kept his eyes on the text until it disappeared in the city lights.

Grace's head fell on the window, her vision slowly got blurry as tears formed in her eyes. She bit her lower lip to control herself but still, her heart cried. She closed her eyes and a lone tear escaped her eye.

Hunter's penthouse,
10:44 pm

Sitting on the living room's couch, Dash was taking sips from his red wine glass, having his eyes on the movie (fifty shades of grey) playing in front of him on the television.

Zoe was sitting on his lap, having her legs on the couch over Dash's left thigh. Her head was resting against his hard chest while her gaze at the television blankly.

" Are you gonna make love with me now?". The female lead asked lowly.

" Two things". The male lead paused and bent a little towards the lady. " I don't make love. I f*ck. Hard". He said huskily.

Dash looked down at Zoe and noticed her one hand grabbing a popcorn cup while her other hand's fingers were playing with the popcorn. She wasn't eating them at all nor as excited to watch the movie as always.

Dash placed his wine glass aside and brought his right hand over her inner thigh. He caressed the area softly expecting her to react but she didn't move nor turned her gaze.

" Zoe". He called inhaling her sent. " Wanna make love?". He asked in a hoarse voice but found her too lost in her thoughts. " Baby?" He called again a little loudly making her jump a little.

" Huh?" She faced him immediately.

" Is everything alright?" Dash asked concern fully, tugging her hair behind her ear.

She nodded shifting herself a little away on his lap to have a look of his face properly. " I want to ask something". She said biting her lower lip and getting hmmm in response from Dash.

After a brief silence, she spoke. " Dash, promise me you won't lie". She said making him frown at her.

" Zoe-".

" Promise? " She forwarded her hand cutting him off.

He gazed down at her palm then at her bluish-green orbs again. " Promise". He said giving his hand to her.

" Dash. What do you do for a living?  How do you make so much money? " She questioned.

" Not again". Dash tilted his head taking his hand back. " You have asked the same question thousands of times". He added.

" But you never replied properly once, have you?". She said more like argued. " Tell me! Are you into something illegal?"

" You met someone, didn't you? " He asked right away after hearing her tone.

" Don't question back, answer me first". She whined.

" Do you trust me? " He asked.

" I said don't question back-"

" Do you F*CKING TRUST ME OR NOT?" He cut her off in a stunt voice. Her eyes widen as he raised his voice on her for the first time and grabbed her arms tightly.

" I-I do ". She replied feeling scared under his hard gaze.

" Isn't that enough?" He asked getting her nodding head along with her wince. He looked down only to realise his tight grip around her delicate arms that turned them white.

" Please don't be mad at me ". She spoke in a low voice.

He immediately released her hands. His heart shrunken. He opened and closed his mouth but no words came out. He blinked multiple times as his head started to spin. " Zoe, I'm sorry ". He finally apologized cupping her face gently. " I'm not mad at you". He added lifting her face only to see tears shimmering in her eyes. " F*ck ". He muttered under his breath for making her cry. " I'm really sorry". She looked up into his guilt-filled gray eyes and nodded slowly.

" It's okay ". She replied wiping her cheeks. He stared at her trying to understand what was wrong with himself. He didn't know why his emotions f*cked him up but Zoe did. The wine he was drinking was drugged by Zoe.

She looked up at him from the corner of her eyes, noticing his confused expression she took her chance. She moved closer to him and captured his lips with hers softly. He palmed her neck and replied to her kiss more passionately. Her left hand trailed down from his chest to his abs.

Their lips were moving in sync. He tried to push his tongue into her mouth but she kept her mouth closed. His frustrated Goan got muffled in her mouth when she sucked on his lips.

She pulled his lower lip with her teeth before moving back. " Won't you tell your Zoe, Dash?" She asked seductively.

He gazed up. " I do bad things. And I do them very well". He spoke huskily. His eyes had turned red, lips had a slain smirk. The colorful light of the television was hitting his hard features, making him look more stunning.

" B-bad things?" She gasped as he suddenly pulled her top over her head and roughly attached their lips again. " Dash- ". This time the kiss wasn't pleasuring her at all.

His high self roughly pulled her closer and deepen the kiss. The popcorn cup they had between them fell, spreading popcorn all over the couch and the floor. Dash's fingers got dig into her skin. He bit her lower lip harshly before pushing his long tongue inside of her mouth. He made her wrap her legs around him before standing up to get inside the room.

His feet were unsteady still he managed to carry her to the bedroom.

He threw her on the bed and hungrily devoured her lips again before moving down leaving open mouth kisses. He doffed her shorts. " F*ck me". He breathed out huskily looking down at her doll-like figure.

" This shit never fails to make me hard". He said touching her belly piercing. He leaned and licked it. Her body arched feeling a shiver running down her spine.

" Dash". She inhaled sharply clenching the bedsheet tightly.

He grabbed the side of her panty to rip it but his strength gave up on him. " Zoe... my head". He groaned as he couldn't even support his body weight anymore and landed on her stomach. " My head's hurting". He mumbled grabbing his head tightly being unable to speak any louder.

Zoe gulped as she noticed his dizziness. She managed to get herself free from his hovered body before making him lay properly on the bed and resting his head on a soft pillow.

" Forgive me for this". She said pulling the duvet over his body.

She grabbed his laptop and unlocked it using Dash's index finger. Opening files while looking at Dash from time to time she found his documents folders. One of them was under Zoe's name, which contains Zoe's and his happy captured moments.

Getting a grip on her feelings she copied all the other files and e-mail them to Ric with her shaky fingers. As soon as she got notified that the person has received the email, she deleted the record and placed the laptop as it was before.

Her mobile rang and she was fast to pick up the call from the unknown number and went towards the balcony. " Well done woman, you did it faster than expected".

•  What a plot twist you were.

Chapter published on: 29 June 2022