Page 4

Kybella Vonshire (Bella)

Bella went to sleep in the car on the ride home.

A bump in the road awakened her and she darted up screaming.

As soon as she began to look around, Adonis took her in his arms.

He sat beside her stroking her hair to calm her down.

His loving touch was amazing.

Ever since he pulled her from the darkness-steady hands lifting her from pain she thought she’d never escape-something inside her had shifted.

In his presence, she felt safe, seen, understood in ways words could never capture.

The urge to be close to him wasn’t about touch; it was about trust, about surrendering to the warmth he gave so freely.

She ached to bridge the space between them, to let him feel the depth of what he’d awakened in her-not just desire, but the kind of intimacy born from gratitude, healing, and quiet lust.

She was in distress because her ex-boyfriend beat her.

She didn’t want to come off as desperate to have another man so quickly.

Game came to her rescue while she was in a crisis.

Bella thought about how she would have to let him know that she appreciated him, but she wouldn’t move in with him .

I refuse to allow a man to come in my life as a Prince Charming .

She thought about how he could give her the world and then turn around and control her life.

It could all be a front.

Her past taught her that sweet words often masked hidden agendas, so now she couldn’t shake the feeling that Adonis’s charm was just a front to pull her into his control.

Her mind recalled how Brian tricked her into thinking he loved her.

She remembered how he love-bombed her throughout their entire relationship.

His most famous quote to her was, I’ll change for you .

Every time she would threaten to leave him that was what he said to keep her there.

They’d originally met in the club.

He bought her a bottle and dinner that night to get her home with him.

She fell for his lies and promises of giving her a good life.

Brian’s home was beautiful and once she moved in with him permanently, he became a different man towards her.

His mask would come off and he would begin the mistreatment.

The first week that she moved in with Brian, she made him dinner.

Steak, potatoes, greens, and yams.

As soon as she handed him his plate, he slapped her in the face.

He said the steak wasn’t done and threw the food on the floor.

The memory was vivid like it happened yesterday, although it was many years ago.

The disrespect hurt her feelings badly, more than the hurt from the physical abuse.

Bella trusted Brian enough to share her life with him.

After he hit her the first time, he gifted her with a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon to make up for the abuse.

She accepted it and the cycle repeated numerous times afterwards.

Adonis seemed like he was different, but it could all be an act to get her to commit.

As she turned to exit the car, Adonis began to put a necklace around her neck.

Bella looked at the necklace in amazement.

It was a Dolce fitted jeans, silky tops, even a pair of heels placed by the door.

Everything was new, none of her old clothes were there.

Not a single worn sweater, not even her favorite hoodie.

They were all still at her ex-boyfriend’s room; where she had left them, like fragments of a life she hadn’t walked away from.

It was like her old life still lingered in the closet.

Bella was anticipating getting back to the room to shower and wear the new lingerie he’d bought her.

If he allowed her the privacy to take a shower.

She was looking forward to some alone time.

Plus, it seemed like Brian wasn’t worried about her anyway.

It’d been a whole day since she’d seen or heard from Brian.

It was important that she stay alert and on the lookout for him.

As Adonis and Bella walked back to the room with their hands locked tightly, she was constantly looking out for Brian.

“Girl, I see you looking out for that man. I told you that you’re safe with me. My bodyguard is right beside you. Stop tripping out.” Game insisted.

All Kybella could do was smile at Adonis.

She let him run the show and didn’t say anything back.

Adonis was an alpha male, and she loved it.

She wasn’t afraid of what he would do to her, unlike the fear Brian had instilled in her.

Now that she’d been around Adonis, she knew her ex didn’t stand a chance with him.

Adonis took boxing lessons, and he often participated in matches.

So, Kybella believed he would beat Brian’s ass if they ever had a meet up.

They made it safely inside his hotel room and Bella sighed deeply.

Adonis shook his head.

“I can’t wait until I get you back home with me so you can relax.” He said as he looked at her.

“Me too.” She replied.

He pulled her closer to him in excitement.

“Let’s gooo! He screamed. “So, you’re saying you’ll go back home with me?

” He paused and stood awaiting her response as her gaze was fixed between his legs.

“I mean yes, I want to go back home with you, Game. I can’t resist your requests anymore.” He kissed her, and a wide grin spread on his face like a kid in a candy store.

Bella bit down on her smile and broke away from his strong hold and headed to the bathroom.

Once entering the bathroom, she saw that they were out of towels.

Despite the fear twisting in her stomach, she quietly slipped out of the room to get towels herself, too anxious to call the concierge and risk drawing any attention.

She saw that Adonis was busy looking at an Olympic basketball game on TV.

So, he was distracted and didn’t see her leaving the room.

As she went out of the room, she noticed the bodyguard was not at his post in front of their door.

Her phone in hand, she took off quickly to the front desk.

A hotel maid was saying something to her in Spanish as she walked away.

Bella didn’t understand what the maid was saying so she kept moving and ignored her.

Suddenly everything was dark, and she couldn’t breathe.