Game of Love Ch. 13

But she didn't get to enjoy that moment as her phone began ringing. It was the same number and she didn't even take time to answer it.

'Kim! Kim! Kim!' The man laughed on the other end. 'How did you like my gift?'

Fear curled up inside her and clung to her ribs, settling uncomfortably in her ribs.

"What do you want?" She couldn't recognize her voice.

'Why do you sound scared, Kimberly?' The man laughed hysterically. 'I thought you didn't have any skeletons in your closet. Why did you run downstairs like that? You should have just let your son in law see what was inside. It would have been much fun.'

"Who are you? What do you want from me?"

'You shouldn't fuck with me, Kim!' The man warned. 'The next thing I am gonna send there will be your destruction. So if I were you, I'd listen to me.'

"What do you want?" Kim had never felt as scared as she did at that time. "Who are you?"

'I am your worst nightmare, Kimberly. Someone that knows all your secrets!' The man seethed.

"What do you want?" Kim gasped. "Is it money? Name your price and leave me alone!"

'Where's the fun in that?' The man laughed, a laughter that made Kim's heart to hammer in her chest. 'I want much more than the money you're offering. I want to destroy you.'

Darkness washed over Kim sending another chill down her spine. It wasn't a chill of passion. It was a chill of fear. The same fear that she had been scared would come one day. Her past was haunting her, a shadow was after her life.

'This is gonna be fun, Kimberly!' He laughed manically. 'It is really gonna be fun. You're gonna wish you were dead before this day comes.'

"I can pay you any amount!" Kim pleaded. "Just name it. I can even send a blank check but please, leave me alone."

'Now are we gonna do this?' The man asked. 'What would hurt you the most, Kim? Oh I know...'

"Just say name your price and... hello! Hello!"

She moved the phone from her ear and found the call had been cut. She went to her call logs but there was nothing there. Suddenly, her phone began vibrating and she received a message.

'You still don't seem to understand. Kim, you can't run away from your shadow. Let me demonstrate what I am saying to you.'

Almost in an instant, Kim received a media message, a video. She quickly opened it and pure terror surged through her veins, icy daggers straight to the heart. Her eyes widened and her body shook in fear.

The video she received was of her son. He was seated in the car talking on the phone happily with the brightest smile ever. Whoever was taking the video must have been outside because of the view. She felt like her legs couldn't support her anymore and she dropped to the bed.

'How would you love it if your son received a dose for a long sleep, Kim?'

'No!' She shook her head. 'Not my son. No!"

Kimmy didn't know when she started running out of her room or when she started heading towards the living room, looking all around. She wanted to see if her son was back or perhaps if he was on his way. His life was in danger and she needed to save him.

"Eric!" She shouted as she rushed down the stairs. "Eric, where are you? Eric!"

She reached the living room and standing shouting like she was going insane.

"Eric!"

"Mother?" Eric gasped as he rushed into the living room. "What's going on? Are you okay?"

"Where's Sergio?" She gasped. "Has he come back home? Did he call you? I need to know if he's back home already."

"Mother, calm down. Sergio is fine."

"Where's he? I need to..."

"Mom?"

Kim felt like her life had just been returned to her when she heard her son's voice. She quickly looked in his direction and found him entering the house with a frown on his face. He was holding his jacket in one hand and he had a box in the other hand.

"Sergio?"

Kim gasped and she rushed to her son, wrapping her arms around him. She started kissing his face like a little child, holding him even tighter. To say Sergio was surprised would be a total understatement. He hadn't expected his mother to act like that. He had missed her embrace but he was also surprised.

"My son, are you alright?" She gasped, cupping his face. "Tell me you're okay?"

"I... I am fine!" He stuttered, a frown appearing on his face. "Are you okay, mommy? You look pale. Are you sick?"

"Don't worry about me." Kim tried her best to smile. "I am fine. What matters is that you're fine."

She smiled and that was when she saw the box he was holding on his other hand. "What... what's that?"

"Oh..." Sergio chuckled happily. "...it's a cake. I actually got it for Eric."

Hesitantly, Kim's eyes look at the box. 'How would you love it if your son received a dose for a long sleep?'

Those words got to Kim so much that she started sweating. A whole lot of terrifying thoughts went through her head. What if something had been put in that cake, she thought as she tried to bring herself under control. She couldn't take these threats lightly and she needed to do something.

Kim chuckled nervously and quickly grabbed the box from her son, smiling sheepishly at him.

"You know what, you've done the right thing." She nodded. "I was just craving for a cake. You truly know what your mother needs."

"But mommy, that cake was for Eric and..."

"It's fine, Sergio!" Eric said with a smile as he walked to his husband. "I don't have a problem as long as mother is happy."

"See!" She chuckled nervously, patting on his back. "Eric completely understands."

"But mom..."

"Come on, you must be tired." She said, trying her best to smile. "Why don't you go and freshen up and then eat something? Meanwhile, I'll enjoy this cake."

Sergio shrugged, kissing his husband's cheek. He held his waist before kissing his mother and the both of them started heading upstairs happily arm in arm. Kim watched as the two of them left and she was in so much fear. Suddenly, she felt her phone vibrate and she quickly glanced at it.

'You're a quick one, aren't you? I didn't even do anything and you're acting paranoid. But will you save your family from my poison, Kimmy? Until next time!'

Kim quickly deleted the message and sighed, looking at the box she was holding.

'It seems whoever this person is, he is keeping a tab on me.' She thought. She was clammy and there was a glisten of a cold sweat. 'Who could he be and how does he know about my secret after so many years. I need to be very careful because whoever he is, he seems very dangerous. I need to find out who he is before he destroys what I have built for so long.'

She took a deep breath and started heading outside. She needed to get rid of the cake without her son seeing her. She didn't wanna be questioned and she also knew that she had to do something quick before she found herself in deep soup.

***

Sergio came out of the bathroom, toweling his hair. He was dressed in a beautiful black cargo short with a white t-shirt and sandals on his feet. He was just from taking a quick shower. When he entered the room, he saw Eric seated on the bed, leaning towards the board. He seemed lost in his thoughts and Sergio couldn't help but admire how beautiful he looked.

He dropped the towel on a chair and walked to him.

"Hey! I missed you." He moaned, taking Eric's hand. Eric got out of his thoughts and he looked at his smiling husband. "You have no idea how much I was dying to see you beautiful face."

He sat closer to him, cupping his face in his hands. He leant in and captured those beautiful lips in a sensational kiss that totally blew him away. But something was wrong and he could feel it. The kiss was felt... wrong. He slowly pulled away, caressing Eric's cheek while staring into his eyes.

"Baby, what's wrong?" He asked softly. "You seem lost and..."

"Sergio, I think there's something wrong with mom." Eric chimed in, taking a harsh breath. "She acts different from her usual self."

"What?" Sergio laughed, raising an eyebrow. "She acts different? How? Oh, I am so sorry." He hit his head. "Are you talking about the cake? I promise, I will buy another one. I can order one right now if you want."

"What? No!" He frowned. "I am not talking about the cake. She's been acting strange for a few hours now. Earlier, I had received a package which I thought was from you. Mom came and grabbed it from me and told it was hers. She actually smiled and talked to me with care. I don't understand."

"Eric, I think you're overthinking things." Sergio kissed his hands. "That's just the way mom is and..."

"Did you get the part where I said she spoke to me with care?" He raised an eyebrow. "This morning she insulted me and issued all kinds of warning and besides..." He sighed. "...didn't you find her reaction downstairs strange? She was okay with seeing us together."

Sergio shrugged. "Maybe she just wants to change."

"But Sergio..."

"Shh..." Sergio blocked Eric's lips with his finger. "...you don't have to worry about anything. You'll soon learn that that's the way she is. Come tomorrow and you'll see another side of her."

Eric still wasn't convinced. He had a strange feeling about what had been happening in the house since they returned from their honeymoon. First, they had almost been killed at their reception party and now Kim was acting weird. His husband may have been right but he couldn't shake off that terrible feelings.

"Hey!" Sergio moved his head closer to Eric, slowly rubbing on his cheek. "Everything is alright. And besides, I am starting to think you're avoiding your husband. This is you and me time. Come back to me."

"But..."

"Shhh..." He leant in, so his forehead rested against Eric's. "Everything is fine. You're making me jealous here." He teased, winking at the boy. "I missed you so much and I just want you to take care of me like a baby. You had promised to pamper me when I return, remember?"

Eric closed his eyes, his breath becoming shaky.

"I want you and I to spend some quality time together without any worries between us." He moaned as his breaths crushed with Eric's. God, everything seemed so magical.

Eric was starting to get in the mood. He knew his husband was trying to make him feel better and he didn't want to make him feel bad in return.

"What do you want, my love?" Eric moaned softly as he felt Sergio's nose brush on his. "I just want you to take care of me."

Sergio leant in and kissed Eric's nose. "I want to feel your body so close to mine." He kissed both his eyelids. "I wanna kiss you all over. I wanna be alone with you without anyone disturbing us. I missed you so much and..."

He paused and chuckled softly. He leant in a little and his lips brushed Eric's. Right at that moment, he kissed Eric and the world instantly fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in every way that words would never be. His hand rested below Eric's ear, his thumb caressing his cheek as their breaths mingled.

After what felt like hours, both of them pulled away and just stared at each other with billion dollar smiles on their faces. No words came out of their mouths but the conversation going on between their souls was passionately sexy. They didn't need any words between them. The rhythm of their hearts and the look they gave each other was enough.

"Let me take care of my handsome husband then!" Eric said in a tone that he barely recognized. "I missed you too and all I need is to be with you."

He made Sergio lie on the bed with his head on his lap. Then he started playing with his soft hair while making sure that their eyes were locked on each other. The love between them was visible and nothing was gonna break them.

Sergio was so excited that he didn't want anything to ruin that moment. Just being there with Eric, staring into his eyes and the feel of his hands in his hair was magical. Before long, Sergio found himself drifting off to sleep. Before long, he was fast asleep snoring softly but the smile on his face couldn't be wiped off.

Eric on the other hand just stared at his husband, admiring his face. He leant down and kissed his tender lips, rubbing on them softly. He would give anything just for that moment to last. He just continued staring at his sleeping husband with a smile. He didn't mind doing it all night.

***

"Yeah, I got it!" Giada laughed hysterically. "I am looking at it right now."

She was holding her tablet, looking at the video of Kim panicking when she had received the message in her room. She had an orgasmic look on her face, enjoying the sight of Kim panicking. She looked like she had seen a ghost. She had planted a very small camera in Kim's room during the party and now they were gonna be seeing everything she did. There was also one in the living room.

She chirped, shaking her head before she put her table on the bed.

"Poor, poor Kimberly!" She gave a fake sigh. "Who would have guessed she'd be so scared?"

'That's not even fear!' The man said on the other end. 'She doesn't know fear or pain. What's coming her way will be worse and she'll wish for death. I am gonna destroy that woman in ways she didn't think possible!'

"I have no doubt!" She laughed. "I wanna see Kim kicked right off her thrown." She snarled, clenching her fist. "I wanna see her cry. But no matter how much I wanna see her suffer, I want Eric to suffer even more. I want to see him breathe his last. I want to see him begging for his life. I wanna strangle the life out of him."

'All in good time, Giada! Our plan has already started and Eric will be out of the way just by the snap of my finger.' The man vowed. 'He's the only one that can ruin our plans. We need to eliminate him as soon as possible. That's why we need to keep a very close eye on him.'

"I have someone keeping an eye on him and his family." She laughed manically. "I want that boy wiped off the surface of the earth. That will teach Laurel not to mess with me. Surely, the death of Eric will kill her and I'll have my family once again."

'That's why I like you. You're so evil, Giada!' The man said with a chuckle. 'Now wait for tomorrow's bomb. You'll enjoy it!'

"As long as it involves Eric's suffering. Nothing will make happier."

The phone cut and Giada started smiling like an evil warlord.

"Eric, I can't wait to see you dead. It's only a matter of time!"

She laughed manically quickly turning. But the moment she did, she just froze. She breathed in and out but air wouldn't even enter her lungs. Starved for air, her heart raced at a tremendous speed, and her lungs shallowly rose and fell in time. Her eyes widened and her phone dropped to the floor. Each second submerged in fear made a permanent mark on her heart, and she wondered whether it was just her mind playing tricks or realty.

"B-b-brice?" She couldn't recognize her voice.

Her husband stood a distance away from her, staring at her like he'd just caught her committing murder. He was wearing a white designer's shirt that was tucked in a black trouser with black shoes on his feet. Giada was so scared that she actually wondered how much he'd heard.

"Brice, I..."

"What kind of monster are you?" Brice muttered, shaking his head in anger. "And who were you talking to about hurting my son?"

"No... I... I wasn't talking to anyone, I swear." She didn't even realize that tears had welled in her eyes. "I... I... what are you doing here?"

"I can't believe I was married to a monster all these years." Brice gasped, getting closer to Giada. But Giada remained standing there, shaking her head. "What kind of woman are you? You're capable of murder?"

"No, I..."

But Giada didn't even finish her sentence as her arm was gripped painfully and her body slammed into the wall. It hurt like hell and she winced. Her breaths came in gasps and she felt like she was gonna black out. Brice had a powerful grip on her arm and it felt like her bones were gonna break.

"Who were you talking to, Giada?" Brice barked, adding pressure to his wife's arm. "Who the fuck were you talking to about murdering my son? Who?"

"I don't know what you are talking about." She groaned, trying to release her arm but only caused herself more pain. "I am not planning on killing... ouch! You're hurting me.":

"Tell me!" He yelled, literally crushing her bones.

"Ouch!"

"Who did you call?"

"I wasn't talking to anyone." She yelled. "I was just talking to my friend. Ouch! You're hurting me."

Brice's face was red with suppressed anger. "I have been such a fool. And to think after all this time we've been apart, you were gonna learn your mistakes. I came here to try and fix our marriage but you're worse than the devil himself. I am glad I came here the time I did, otherwise, I wouldn't have known what you were planning against my son.

But now that I am here, I am gonna do what I should have done long ago. I am gonna protect my son from demons like you. I am going to expose you, Giada. I will make sure you stay behind bars."

Giada's mind started to fail, like an engine that turns over and over, never kicking into action. She couldn't formulate a thought. Adrenaline flooded her system, pumping and beating like it was trying to escape. Sweat started trickling down her neck and she felt a coldness that she hadn't felt in her life before.

"I am gonna go to Eric and Kim and I will tell them everything." He snarled. "It is over for you, Giada."

With those words, he let go of her and she dropped to the floor with a thud. Giada was acting like a crazy woman, hugging herself while she was engulfed by a terrible cold. She raised her head to stare into her husband's eyes but all she saw was hatred, anger and resentment. She'd never seen that look in his eyes before and she knew he wasn't joking.

"You'll pay!"

Brice hissed and started rushing out of there with his fists clenched. There was no thinking about it. He was gonna save his son and that was it. He touched the doorknob to open the door but a sound like a heavy glass falling to the floor with a bang stopped him.

Before he could process anything, he felt a sharp pain burning like fire in his chest. He tried to breathe but felt like he'd breathed in sharp edged swords. He couldn't breathe properly and when he tried to take a deep breath, he coughed terribly and blood began coming out of his mouth.

He slowly moved his head to his chest and found that his shirt was heavily stained with blood and on his left side was a wound as if someone had stabbed him, blood gashing from there. That was when he realized that he'd been shot. He held his chest as his body began slowly shaking.

He dropped to his knees as he struggled to breathe. The pain throbbed in his chest and it felt like someone had their hand on his heart, squeezing it as hard as they could. The pain shot up fast, erasing every thought from his head and paralyzing his body. He tried to move but realized that he couldn't do it.

Veins shot up in his eyes and they became blood red. Each breath he took only drove him closer to his death. His body was instantly cold and he felt numb all over. In just a few seconds, his shirt was entirely bloody and he could feel the warm blood running down his legs to the floor which had now been colored by his blood.

He wanted to say something but he dropped to the floor on his back, slowly moving his head towards Giada. Giada was holding a gun that shook in her hand like a leaf on a windy day. She was getting closer to him, her body quivering and her face wet with tears.

Quicker than he'd expected, black filled the edges of his vision and the only thing he could hear was his own heart. His breath came in ragged, shallow gasps. Seconds passed as he lay there, hearing Giada's footsteps get closer and her harsh gasps. Everywhere was becoming darker and darker until he couldn't see anything.

"You... you..."

That was the last word that came out of his mouth. His fragile, human heart beat one last time.