Chasing His Betrayed Luna by KiKi Jones

62. Larisa's POV (4)

LARISA'S POV

"Why won't he stop coughing!" | groaned. Completely frustrated.

The little boy has been more of a pain in my ass than | thought he would. Fucj that! | thought he was the safer

twin to kidnap because he was gentle and sweet unlike his sister but I've cto realize that it would have been

better to take the girl instead.

After all, | could easily knock her out with drugs and seal her mouth with a tape just to keep her from talking my

ears off.

The little boy has remindedwhy it is safer fornot to have kids even though I still desire to carry Raiden

kids in the future.

| was nice enough to give him freshly made meals from my parents' mansion yet he refused to eat. | bought him

snacks, but he didn't take them and each the wakes up from the drug-induced sleep, he wails about his

mom and sister.

Somehow, | managed to endure him until he started coughing last night. Before the cold started, | noticed his

cries becless loud and frequent. | assumed he had lost his strength. When the cough fits started, it wasn't

serious or should | say | didn't take it seriously until

now.

"I'm sick and tired of you, boy! Stop making that annoying noise. You can cry all you want but don't infect me

with that cough of yours." | complained, standing in front of the cell | provided for him.

He had a makeshift bed and a blanket to keep him warm but even that didn't stop him from coughing like his

lungs would split any moment.

"I. Want. My. Mama." He whined, punctuating each word with a cough.

He looked paler than yesterday which madeyell, "Your need is more important than your want, boy. You need

to eat or you will pass out and never see your dearest Mama or your sister ever again."

| silently hoped my threats would work this tdespite failing many times in the past four days. To my dismay,

the little boy coiled up in his bed, ignoring my words and the food | brought for him.

"Suit yourself. You can die for all | care!" | snapped and stormed away from the cell.

A tired feminine voice from the next cell called out toas | walked past it. "Have you lost your mind to the

point of holding a little child hostage? You don't even know how to take care you him, Larisa." She spoke to me

with hostility and familiarity.

Her blackish-gray hair stood out among all of her features, remindingof how much she had aged in the past

years.

"Mind your business or you won't be fed today." | spat at her, moving forward hastily.

| hated coming down to the basement because these people usually gavethe irk. Smelly rats!

As if they were all sent to get me, another soft voice cried, "I want to go home. Please letsee my mom."

And no, that wasn't Kylie or whatever Aurelia's son was named. That was another one of my prisoners. A teenage

female to be precise and keeping her hostage has helpedmaintain my reign of control over her so-called

mom.

"You better get comfortable, girl. Your mom hasn't been of much help lately so you aren't getting out of that cell

anytsoon." | shrugged as | informed it.

If I was to be honest, | pitied sof

my prisoners. Two of them have

been here the longest and they would remain locked away as | wasn't ready to kill them just yet. If Kidnapping

Aurelia's son fails to helpthose two would be used as my backup plan.

Smight ask, "How many people are you keeping in that basement and how do you keep them concealed

from the world? From Raiden?"

Well, I have long lost count of the

number of people in the basement. Swere taken for leverage and most of them died before they could be

released.... If | wanted to release them My trusted man has been tasked with keeping tabs on these people while

| focus on the outside world.

And about how | keep this place concealed and away from Raiden's sniffing nostrils, it's a secret.

| might not be a magician but I'm not about to reveal my tricks... my power.

| inhaled deeply as soon as | stepped into the ground floor of my hideout where | had spent most of the hours of

the past four days, looking after Aurelia's abomination. My relief was cut short when I sighted the familiar frame

of my aide storming towards me, rage clearly written on his face.

"| told you, Larisa! | warned you against keeping that boy!" He snarled, his muscular chest rising and falling

faster than usual.

"Care to tellwhy you have your head shoved far up your ass? It's not like anyone can find him or label me

the culprit-"

"But he could die!" He countered.

"I won't let him die. I still need him-"

"You have to release him now, Larisa. You can put up an act that would make everyone believe that you found

him. They will believe you because they already think you've been searching for him-"

| interjected, "Why would | release him after what his mother did? She humiliatedon two occasions for crying

out loud!"

He shook his head, brought his hand to my shoulders, and announced, "You have to let him go because the

information | received a few minutes ago says he is sick. The boy's lungs are weak and he won't survive the cell-"

No wonder!

That explained the coughing fits.

"Move him up here if the cell is not conducive for him. | can't let him go yet." | concluded.

"But that's dangerous. The boy could just walk out and he would be spotted immediately. Don't forget he knows

you took him-"

"Nothing will happen if you watch him. Take care of him. Get him drugs for his lungs and keep him stable." | left

no room for argument.

He argued still, "But I've to be out there. No one can notice my absence or I'll beca suspect and you-"

"That won't happen. Raiden trusts you and I'm sure you can handle yourself." | said with a tone of finality.

Disbelief clouded his eyes yet he had no choice but to keep helping me. Assured that Kyle would be taken care

of, | left the hideout to show myself to Raiden so | wouldn't lose him to Aurelia during this emotional time.