Sam knew by not accepting his feelings, he was playing smart. He tried not to give her the power to make him miserable but at last, he couldn't help being drawn to her and now his emotions were jagged.

He walked out of the building to Markus and the others. Upon looking at him no one could tell about the storm that was tearing his heart apart, well, no one but Markus.

He could tell, by the way Sam constantly ran his fingers through his hair, how frustrated he was.

"Where's he ?" Sam questioned as soon as he reached them. Markus eyed him suspiciously, however, for the time being, he let it go.

"Let's go." He said. Along with Adam and his team, Sam followed Markus.

"How did you get hold of him ?" Sam asked.

"After you left, I asked some of my men to monitor the building.....For a week, nothing happened. I was about to back off, then yesterday he showed up and we got him." Adam told him. Sam hummed.

A set of concrete stairs lead them to the basement. The atmosphere around them changed almost immediately. There were a few flickering lights in a long and narrow hallway with murky and barred cells on either sides. The place reeked heavily off old blood, sweat and urine. Whispers of men, curled up at the corners reached their ears. Least bothered by these, they stopped infront of one of the "torcher rooms" with Carl there in.

Markus unlocked the door and they all stepped inside. Carl was unconscious. His hands and legs were tied to the chair, he was seated on whereas his right eye was swollen and corner of his lips bled. Catherine grabbed a bucket of water and splashed the water on his face.

"Ha...ha" He gasped for air and jerked up immediately. Not a minute after, Sam punched him right across his face. He screamed in pain.

"Wake up you fu**tard." Sam gritted his teeth. Carl's head dangled back and forth in the air as if there were no bones inside. Sam punched him again, earning another scream from him.

"Now, look at me." He commanded, holding his head at place by his hair.

Markus was leaning by an old wooden table containing different kinds of devices that they used to torcher their prisoners. He kicked a stool, kept by his side towards Sam. Sam grabbed it and seated down opposite to Carl.

"Now you be good and tell me where's the money ?"

"She took it from me." He replied.

"Who is "she" here ?" Even though Sam knew the answer, he wanted to know everything from the scratch.

"You think I am behind all this ?" Carl muttered and recieved another blow across his face.

"Just answer to what I ask. Who is she ?"
Carl's jaw tensed but he knew he had no other option than to co-operate with them if he wanted to live.

"Clara Luciano."

Sam stood up and walked to the table.
"So you're telling me, you worked with her for nothing in return. Ha ?" He remarked, assessing the different tools. He finally settled for a pair of thin iron rods. He returned and rapidly penetrated the rods in his thighs. Pain surged through him like a sharp sword. His heart leaped into his throat.

"Now tell me where is she and the money or I am gonna make sure to give you very slow and painful death."

"Philadelphia. She is in Philadelphia and the fifty millions of my share are in the same house, you attacked.

"Where in Philadelphia ?" Markus asked from behind.

"Harrowgate."

"What else you know about her." Sam asked. Carl sucked in a deep breath and gazed up at the ceiling as if he was recalling something.

"There was a time I worked for her father."

"Giovanni." They heard a familiar voice of Damon, standing right infront of the cell. Carl nodded acknowledging his words.

"He was a cold and ruthless man, a heartless murderer. Clara is his older daughter and just like her father she is merciless. She inherited all the good and bad qualities of her father, except, she was a faithful wife unlike his father who slept with every other woman, he got eyes on. She loved Antonio Forelli and ever since you killed him, she swore vengeance on everyone involved in it."

"And his other children ?"

"His son, Carlo, never really liked all this and once he could he left his family, came to New York, changed his name and started a new life."

Upon hearing his words something inside Sam's brain sparked.

"What's his name ?"

"Something..something...Lewis. I don't remember." Just as he heard that name, rage churned inside him. He jolted up and exited the cell. Markus handed the key to Adam and ran after him.

Sam took bigger strides than usual and was followed by Markus. Once they reached the ground floor, Markus yanked him back.

"The hell is wrong with you, man ?" Agitated, he asked. He didn't recieve any response. "What happened back in the room ?" He rephrased his question. Sam ran his fingers through his hair, then, massaged his temple.

"She fu**ing helped him escape ?" Markus stared at him with a puzzled look.

"Be more specific."

"That Lewis. She helped him escape."

"Wait...what ?....What was he doing there and why would she help him ?"

"They work together."

"Okay.... but that doesn't explain why he was there."

"He was there for her."

"What did she tell you ?"

"She told me that he is a goddamn friend who risked his own fu**ing life to save her." Just by the way the word "friend" rolled out of Sam's mouth, Markus realised what he meant.

"You're implying that they just don't work together. Aren't you ?" Sam turned and faced him, he didn't have to say it. The envy and the pain in his eyes said it all.

"Did she tell you that ?" Markus asked, not believing his theory. For a long while he had observed Chloe whenever she was around Sam, and everytime, he found her flushed. The love she had for him was visible in her eyes.

"No...." Sam replied slowly. Markus sighed.

"Bro, I know I...I can't feel you but I can... understand you. After all these years, she has walked into your life like an angel and the mere thoughts of her going away from you is...scaring you...but believe me, I have seen it in her eyes..the love for you. And you will see it too just let the change happen over again...for better this time." Sam gazed at him, his lips were pursed in a thin line before he pulled him in a brotherly hug. Markus patted his back and whispered, "Just tell her what you feel."

Sam gave him a nod and rushed to the other side of the building. Through the same pathway, he reached outside the room. For the first time in years, his heart was beating so fast. He slowly opened the door and at once his eyes fell on her. She was curled up in a ball such that her head lay on her knees, that were, in turn, barricaded by her arms. A wave of guilt and remorse washed over him.

He cautiously walked closer to her, even after hearing the sound of footsteps, she did not once lifted her head.

He kneeled down infront of her and carefully placed his arms under her legs. It was only then she looked up with those blue orbs of her's that were blazing red and puffy from all the crying.

He lifted her off the ground while she closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. She could hear each and every heartbeat of his clearly.

He seated her on the bed and began to caress her cheeks.

"Chloe..." Gently, he called. She slowly lifted her gaze to meet his. As she watched, she saw a kind of softness in his eyes that she had never witnessed before.

"I have faced many storms in my life...that got me ended up here, in this world of the heartless. And now, after all these years you walk into my life and mess up everything in just a few weeks. You are messing with my brain and this heart of stone, Chloe. And I have no idea how to stop you." His thumb caressed her cheeks. Chloe intently looked in his eyes and flowed in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his abdomen.

"I didn't lie to you....I never did. Yes. I care about him but I don't love him the way you describe it. Please believe me. I don't......I wasted a lot of time by not telling you because I was afraid of the rejection but I can't afford to lose a moment now and end all those little chances of being with you." Her hold on him tightened.

"Say it, Chloe." Sam said, under his breath. She breathed in his manly scent and whispered, "I love you.....I love you so much." Upon hearing her words, happiness warmed him from within. He slightly pulled away before lifting her up bridal style. He laid her down and propped on his one elbow, next to her, caressing her cheeks. One touch from him and her brain shut down, unable to process the intense feeling.

He buried his head into her neck and his finger stroke her lips and moved down underneath her chin. Their eyes locked over again, tears welled up in her eyes, her lips forming a smile as happiness shimmered inside her. Sam inched closer to her, marking the beginning of an unimaginable phase of their lives, decided by their fate and finally, placed his lips on her's.

The flutter of Chloe's heart intensified and she could only focus on his hypnotizing smell and the way he tasted.

His mouth covered her's, his hands roved up and down her body as his tongue caressed her parted lips and devoured the depths of her mouth. He could taste their shared breaths and feel his pounding heart.

By the time Chloe became aware of her hands, they were already wrapped around his neck. He stopped kissing her lips and began to place a series of kisses around her lips, then moved down and placed, feathery kisses on her neck, collarbones and shoulders. Her eyelids were stuck, her body arched up. She had never felt anything like that. Every touch of his on her body glowed fireworks inside her and her body ached for more and more of him.

"You're beautiful and now...all mine." He said.

"You too." She whispered too lost to have any check on her words. He smiled.

"Chloe..you want me to go further ?" Quietly, he asked, kissing the corner of her lips. Her eyes flickered open and locked with his, nothing about the look in his eyes was salacious. He wanted to savour her but with utmost reverence.
"We don't have to, if you dont want to."

Breathing heavily, she mumbled, "I want to."

For the first time in her life, she was feeling this pleasing emotion of "coloring" and she wanted to live it to the fullest. She trusted him with herself.

He gave her a heart warming smile, and without another word, pulled off his black shirt and tossed it on the ground. Her eyes widened as she gaped at him in awe.

She knew he was fit, but she had never imagined that she could witness it bare from her own eyes. She never imagined that he could be all her to call.

Upon realising that she was ogling his chiseled chest and firm abs, she blushed furiously.

He leaned over her, placing kisses on her stomach, slowly lifting her top, kissing her all the way up.

"Sam...." She moaned, too lost in him, as if she was levitated off the world into something beyond. His hold around her tightened and he pressed his body harder against her.

"Say my name again, Chloe..." He whispered, against her lips.

"Sam....." Upon hearing his name from her mouth, he pulled her in, claiming her mouth again.

"Tell me when you can't take it anymore." She nodded slowly after a few seconds when finally she understood the concept.

After that the world seemed to have gone still and the only sound that came was of them, making love together for the very first time.

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