Desperate Measures

ttle diner she sat in. She constantly picked at her nails with nerves unsettled as the minutes flew by on

shake the rain off his trench coat, his presence immediately changing the atmosphere of

uel than kind. Even with his sharp suit that emphasized he was well-off, his appearance screamed that he was a dan

a flat yet rough voice. "I've

ng. "Let's cut to the chase

boy. He has quite a gift for making enemies but is lu

ur price and I'll pay you back." Liya shot b

" Oh darling, trust me, you would not be able to afford what Lia

what?" L

wes me a favor and you'll be the perfect settlement to make us even." Marc

tted " And what do

her a wild wide smile. "I wa

o Marino- a billionaire who allegedly had ties to dangerous people. He was feared as he

e. Are you insane?"

.a complex history. He owes me a good deed, and you are going to ma

nd of guy your mother warned you to stay away from. However, the vision of Liam-beat, bloody, a

ects the idea." S

ave the luxury of refusing. You are going to be his salv

t him in disb

st option. Beautiful, clever, and desperate enough to

his mind. But the burden of her brother's lif

he asked, already ter

becomes yours. And trust me, my tolerance

ss, lovable brother who always found himself in some kind of trouble. Sh

ered, the words tasting

I knew you were wise." He slid her a business card. "Be a

ebts will be wiped clean?

ng as you don't play me, your brother is

Leaving Liya alone with her thoughts and

--------

of Aldo Marino danced in her mind. Though she had never met him, his

igantic gates of Aldo's estate. The entire mansion looked like an inaccessible

black car approached her. The driver steppe

Mr Marino is wa

from the madness. But she had to stick to her words.

ally stopped at the entrance of the mansion, new waves of fear washed over her. With her s

stern face softened only by th

nsdale,"

said in a

" The woman said stepping aside to let he

marble floors. The house was cold and unwelcoming, just like she had guessed. It

y, Melinda knocked once be

announced " Your

er breath hitching as

lk frame broad back to her. He turned slow

e was an edge to him, a quiet fierc

his voice low and menacing.

s came out. Aldo's gaze was hard to read, h

gement with you," he said, stepping clos

"Why would someone like you

s smile. "Let's say I have

ssness. Before she could question

we," he

her hand touched his extended hand, the lights suddenly flickered, and th

" Liya demanded in

," Aldo ordered as he

and shifting. And that's when she saw it, a figure

outline of a wea

shattered, and Liya l