radicalducati TENSION IN MY HEART
TENSION IN MY HEART
As the violent knock continued to echo through the house, Angela's heart raced, and her palms grew sweaty. The sound was relentless, each pound on the door was amplifying the fear coursing through her veins. She glanced at Kerry, who was standing frozen, her face pale with worry. "Are you expecting anyone?" Kerry whispered her voice filled with panic. "Yuki? Is that you?" Angela called out, her voice barely steady. But there was no reply. Just more knocking louder, more insistent. Kerry stepped closer, grabbing Angela's arm. "Don't open it please, Angela. What if it's them? Damon's men..." Angela swallowed hard after that statement, her heart racing. *It couldn't be Yuki. Yuki would have answered* she thought. "What if it's someone who knows we're trying to leave?" Kerry whispered again to Angela, her voice trembling, trying to convince her sister about how risky it can be. The knocking continued, now more aggressive. Whoever was on the door wasn't going away. Angela took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the door, her hands trembling. She tried to peer through the peephole but couldn't see anything. Fear tightened around her chest. "Angela, it's me, Doris". A familiar voice answered. It was indeed Doris's voice. *Doris?* Angela and Kerry exchanged surprise glances. "How can that be possible?" Angela whispered. "Doris, came to Japan?" Kerry whispered in shock. *Doris would have called or texted before visiting, could it be an emergency?* Angela thought. "Please open the door for me". Doris's voice came again in an urgent tone and had some sadness in it, and weakness too. Angela tried to calm herself, breathing deeply, unsure if it's worth the risk. Her best friend. If it's really Doris, then she must be in trouble, and she needed to help her. Angela walked slowly toward the door, each step feeling like a lifetime. "Doris? Is that really you?" she called out, her voice shaky. No response. Just more knocking. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the handle, but something in her gut made her hesitate. Kerry had moved closer, her face pale with fear. Angela's hand hovered over the lock, her heart pounding. "I have to see who it is," she whispered back, her voice tight with anxiety. "But...there was no answer". Kerry whispered. "Doris answered, didn't you hear her?" Angela replied. "Doris!" Kerry called. "It's me, please open the door". Angela hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage and gripping the door handle. "Doris, is it really you?" she asked again, louder this time, her voice quivering. "Yes...please". With her heart pounding in her ears, Angela glanced at her sister. Kerry gave her a small approval nod. Then she drew a deep breath and unlocked the door, cracking it open just enough to peek outside. She suddenly felt her breath caught in her throat, and her body stiffened. There was no one there. Just the eerie silence of the hallway. Angela opened the door wider, stepping out slightly to look around. The hallway was empty, the dim light casting long shadows on the floor. But before she could relax, a familiar voice called from the darkness. "Angela..." Angela whipped her head toward the source of the voice. It was indeed her friend Doris. She was alone. She looked disheveled, her hair a mess, her face pale. "Doris...what happened?" She went and hugged her friend tightly. "I am sorry, Angela...for this". Before Angela could understand or make sense of that statement. Two men in dark suits appeared from around the corner, their faces cold, their eyes focused on her. She recognized them! Damon's men! Her blood turned to ice.
********
The next morning, Courtney knocked on Antonio's door, yawning as she waited. "Antonio, please open the door, it's me, Courtney". "A minute". That would be the most polite reply she ever got after knocking on grown up Antonio's door. She was just smiling to herself. A minute later, Antonio slowly opened his door, Courtney found him all dressed up in a sharp black suit, ready to leave. His expression was colder than it was yesterday but determined, his eyes giving some impressions of the personality that once owned that body. "Wow, isn't it too early?" Courtney replied. "I don't want to waste any more time, Hinata is in danger and she needs my help". Antonio replied. "Calm down, I know you want to really save her, but you can't go alone. I promised Angela I will be by your side and I will keep an eye on you, so I've decided," she said, rubbing her eyes, "I'm coming with you to the Montero mansion." Antonio's gaze hardened. "No, Courtney. I won't allow that." "What do you mean you won't allow that?That is part of our plan, you think you will go there with your disturbed memory. He will never believe you lost your memory!" She snapped. "If this man is indeed a mafia lord, I expect him to be smart enough to recognize someone with Amnesia". "But" she began, but Antonio raised his hand to stop her. "Damon can hurt you far worse than he can hurt me, Courtney," Antonio said tightly. He stepped outside the room and called the guards over. Courtney was still stunned at his decision, not minding the guards he called. "Yes, young master Antonio". They bowed. "I give you my order. Do everything in your will to protect my cousin Courtney. Make sure she stays safe," he ordered. "Only a few of you will come with me to the Monteros. The rest will stay here." Courtney's eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. "What?" She gasped. Although it was delightful to see that Antonio wanted her safe but few guards with him? "It's dangerous, I am coming, we are all coming!" She snapped. "No, you need to be safe." Antonio replied calmly. "You can't just lock me in like this! I want to help you!" But Antonio stood his ground. "I can't afford to lose you," he said quietly. Courtney stared at him, her confusion turning to suspicion. "Why are you being so protective all of a sudden? Do you remember something?"