My name is Tara Harper.
Mafia princess.
Thrives in chaos.
Life of the party.
But there's a secret. A secret so ugly, that I hide.
His name is Alec Romano.
Loyal.
Lives in Violence.
Untouchable.
I want him. Will do anything to get him. Problem...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The air was thick and suffocating as I found myself in a dimly lit bathroom. The steady drip of water from a leaky faucet echoed ominously, sending shivers down my spine. My chest tightened, and my heart pounded so loudly I feared it might burst.
In front of me lay a woman in a bathtub filled with red liquid. Her eyes were closed, her expression eerily peaceful despite the macabre scene. I tried to move, to turn away, but my legs felt like lead, rooted to the spot by some invisible force.
Her eyes fluttered open, and a chilling smile spread across her lips. She extended a hand towards me, her pale skin glistening with the crimson liquid. "Do you know why I did it?" she whispered, her voice echoing hauntingly in the confined space.
I stumbled back, my throat dry. I wanted to scream, to run, but I was paralyzed with fear. Her hand seemed to grow closer despite my desperate retreat.
"Why?" I croaked, barely finding my voice.
"Because you left me no choice," she said softly, her words laced with an unsettling calm.
A jolt, like an electric shock, surged through my body. I gasped and bolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat. My heart raced as I glanced around my room, trying to steady my breathing. It was just a dream, I told myself. Just another nightmare.
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shake off the lingering terror. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows on the walls. The familiar surroundings should have been comforting, but the woman's voice, the look in her eyes—it all felt so real.
This wasn't the first time I had this nightmare. It haunted me, often occurring when I least expected it, leaving me with a sense of dread I couldn't explain. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "It's just a nightmare," I whispered to myself, repeating the mantra until the tension in my body began to ease.
I lay back down, pulling the covers tightly around me, but sleep wouldn't come easily. The woman's haunting words echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the darkness that lurked just beneath the surface of my subconscious
I hurried down the bustling university hallway, weaving through the crowd of students. My eyes were locked on Nikolai, who was striding ahead with his usual confident swagger. I quickened my pace, finally catching up to him.
"Nikolai!" I called out, slightly breathless.
He turned, raising an eyebrow. "Tara, what's up?"
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "I need you to bring Alec to Cecily's party tonight."
He crossed his arms and gave me a skeptical look. "And why exactly should I do that?"
I flashed him a cheeky grin. "Because I can give you some serious dirt on Landon."
His expression shifted instantly. He extended his hand towards me, his eyes gleaming with interest. "You've got a deal."
I shook his hand firmly. "So you'll bring Alec?"
Nikolai smirked, nodding. "Consider it done."
"Great," I said, feeling a rush of satisfaction. "I'll see you both tonight, then."
As I walked away, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation.
I caught myself smiling as I walked away from Nikolai, my mind already buzzing with tonight's possibilities. I nearly bumped into Cecily, who was eyeing me with a suspicious look.
"Why are you so happy all of a sudden?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "Just excited about tonight's party. Speaking of which, how are the preparations going?"
Her eyes lit up immediately, and her suspicion melted away. "Oh, you won't believe it!" she gushed, her voice brimming with excitement. "The decorations are going to be amazing! We've got fairy lights strung up everywhere, and the centerpieces are these gorgeous, glittery arrangements. And wait till you see the dessert table—it's going to be a masterpiece!"
As Cecily went on, detailing every aspect of the party with passionate enthusiasm, I nodded along, my smile growing wider. Tonight was shaping up to be more interesting than I'd imagined.
