Novels by Ambre Legrande

He said my name.He called me Hazel. For the first time since I signed the contract. Not calling me by my name was his way of keeping the distance between us. We weren't anything more than business partners. Not even friends.He didn't think about it when he said my name. The way he stood between me and a bullet was also instinctive. Like a natural inclination. Like he couldn't help himself. Even when my orders stated otherwise."Stay down. Don't move. And whatever you do, do not look up."With my head bowed, ears covered, and my eyes screwed shut, I wait.I know he's immortal, but I'm so devastated that he's already been shot that I can't think straight. I'm sobbing, my throat is dry, and I can barely breathe.I need this to be over. When I remove my palms, I know it's not completely silent around me.But the ringing sound in my ears is so loud that I can't hear what he says to me after he removes his jacket from the top of my head and helps me up.In fact, I'm completely out of

Somehow, Annie convinced Hazel to let he spend the night. Hazel must have agreed because she thought we could take care of this little situation in the morning. Well, not anymore. At around 1am, the girl escapes. I decide to let her know. She should know. She wouldn't want the girl to leave on her own even though she's an adult. Plus, she shouldn't live with the memories of what happened yesterday. We can't trust her. I knock on her bedroom door and hear her stir under the sheets. I enter before she tells me to and she switches on her bedside lamp, squinting through the dark room."What time is it?" She groans."I'm sorry to bother you but I thought you should know. The girl is gone.""Annie?" She scrambles out of the sheets, careful not to tamper with her writst. "What do you mean gone?""She sneaked out about five minutes ago.""And you just let her leave?" She scolds. Of course I did. To prove that the girl is stubborn and deserving of what's about to come her way. I couldn't ha

"There she is," Logan says. I lean off the walls of the building behind me and we follow her down the sidewalk. Apparently, she's one of the members of an underground team of hackers that get paid to do all kinds of stuff.She seems young, maybe a teenager. We pick up the pace and circle her, stopping right in front of her. She freezes, staring between us, and then backs away with a nervous laugh."Can I help you?""You're Annie, right? My name is Hazel Ambrose and this is Logan," I say with a smile.Her eyes grow even wider when she recognises me, but she's smart enough not to run."We need to talk," I add. She thinks about it for a while before she says, "okay.""We can talk over lunch," I say turning to lead the way while Logan moves behind her to make sure she doesn't escape.We watch her devour a sandwich and wait patiently. Once she's done, I ask, "are you a member of a group called 'daydream'?""I know who you are and I know what this is about. But I can't tell you anything," s

"You. Give us some privacy.""He's not going anywhere," I say, glaring daggers at her. What on earth makes her think she can walk in here and give orders?"Whetever you have to say, you can say it in front of Logan.""Fine. We'll have this discussion some other time then," she says. Taking the fruit basket from Edwin, she leaves it on the table."You brought this for her, she should have it," she says. He just stands there like a wimp, letting her do little things like that that gives everyone in the room the idea that she has control over him."I'm surprised you can still afford a room like this," she says waving her hand around."I can't believe how insensitive you are. You're not even trying to hide it. You're petty enough to show up here at a time like this when all of this is your fault. Do you really think you can intimidate me?" I say, looking into her eyes. "And you," I turn to Edwin. "Why are you still here.""Edwin and I are on the same team," she informs me. "What? Are yo

I've been forced to rest for the past few days while they run one test after the other to make sure I'm okay. I find this unusual, and I think Logan might be being my being here for so long, but the doctor here has been our family doctor for years and he has known me since I was a child so I guess he's being extra cautious. I like to think it was just one small accident even though I can barely move, to stop myself from raging over the fact that someone tried to kill me.Logan has spent every night here with me since the accident, only leaving me in the afternoons to freshen up and come back. He's also been doing most of my work, running the hotel, investigating my near-death experience and trying to help me regain my credibility.I've earned nothing but pity so far as news has spread of my condition, but I need to get out of here if I'm going to fix things for good before I go out of business.I'm alone in the private ward for only a few hours before the nurse enters with a tray, fo

"Penny for your thoughts."She's been spaced out for so long. I'm guessing it's something completely random. "Are you going to be with me until I die?" She asks. It's just as I thought. "Yes," I reply. "As per the terms of our agreement."She hesitates, but asks the next question anyway. "What if I get married?" she asks. "My husband wouldn't approve." Approve?"Are we going to worry about the approval of men? You and I make unstoppable pair." Also, I don't need the approval of anyone. Except you. "Answer the question," she insists."You can always set boundries with me. You could order me to stay away, or only to do specific tasks that you think your spouse would approve of. But remember, Miss Ambrose. We have a bond. A supernatural bond that makes me feel what you're feeling and drives me to protect you."She spaces out again. But this time, it's different. She seems dazed, lost in whatever she's now thinking and feeling. It's unusual, and I've only seen this happen once before.

Bella's POV“And then the same guy was there when I met with the police,” I tell Norah.I have asked her to meet with me finally for the first time since hours before the incident.“He was just there when I walked in. With his lawyer,” I add. She swallows down her milkshake before gasping dramatically.“This … Oliver? Tell me what he’s really like, Bella,” she pleads with a pout.I shake my head. And no matter how hard I try to keep a straight face while I talk about him, an involuntary smile creeps onto my face and I sigh.“He’s gentle. And handsome. And he even though he knows about Mark, he sees me for me.”I pause, hoping silently that she understands how much that last part truly means to me. I didn’t think I would ever be able to bear the company of another man while I was still with Mark. I still wonder if all future relationships have been ruined too.“And?” She says expectantly. She knows I want to say more. But I’m not sure if I want to let the thoughts I have about Oliver b

Bella’s POV“What’s going on?” I ask, stopping in the living room as a maid moves a large cake into the kitchen.“Dinner party tonight,” she says rushing past me. I follow her into the kitchen, surprised that my parents are hosting a party that I don’t even know about. I find my mother in there, ordering people around.“What’s going on?” I ask again.“Oh. You’re home,” she says, failing to hide the displeasure in her tone. “Did you need someone to put those away for you?” she offers, gesturing towards the shopping bags in my hands. There are at least eight and they are quite heavy, but all I say is, “I can manage.”I turn around and leave, going upstairs to my bedroom to put away the new items. Things have certainly changed since I left.In a few hours, there is a knock on my door. I ignore it, continuing to get rid of all the old outfits in my closet.Father walks in anyway, looking from the pile of heavy dresses and jeans on the floor to me.“You should go out tonight. Take any of

Oliver’s POVThe car drives off leaving me standing on the front door steps and wondering what the hell is going on.Until now, she seemed like a poor girl with nothing left in the world. But everything changed the moment two bodyguards showed up with an order from her father to bring her ‘home’.Whatever. I shake my head. After returning to bed, it doesn’t take long for me to give up the chase for m remaining two hours of sleep. I get ready and start heading back home instead.***My parents and wife-to-be are having breakfast in the dramatically colourful garden when I arrive. It’s my least favourite place to dine, but my family seems to love it. I join them at the table only because I’m hungry, but soon realise it’s not worth it as I get sucked into their conversation.“I was just telling them about a few plans I’ve made for our wedding,” Amanda says. “It’s not until next year,” I say pouring myself a cup of coffee.“Yes. In the summer. We should do it outdoors with a floral the

Bella’s POV I wake up in a dark room, the warm glow of the sun peeking in from behind the thick curtains. I sit up as memories from the night before attack me and push the sheets away to inspect my body. There’s a bandage around my leg, covering a wound on my right shin, and a few bandaids here and there. There’s also a wet towel on the night stand beside me, resting in an empty bowl.The door opens and a man walks in. I panic and pull the sheets over myself to cover my exposed legs since I am now only wearing underwear and an oversized T-shirt.“You’re awake,” he states. He walks over to the other side of the room, pulling the curtains back to illuminate the room.“How do you feel?” He asks. I stare at him suspiciously. Mostly because he’s a stranger but also because he looks familiar. “Not good,” I reply honestly. He nods. “I was going to take you to the hospital but I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself,” he says. I frown, not knowing what he means. And soon I recognise h

Bella’s POV Tonight is the night. I don't know how I ended up in a year-long abusive relationship, but it's becoming more and more difficult to work with all these bruises. If I wasn't working, we would both be broke because Mark doesn't lift a finger. His parents pay the rent for us, which is the only reason I have a roof over my head, but he bullies me for all the money I make so that he can buy more alcohol and drugs, and take out his intoxication on me. It's not like I haven't tried. I would do anything to get away from him. But up until now, I would have been homeless if I had left him.I started saving money secretly. And now that I have enough, I can finally leave. Tonight. I won't make the mistake of letting him know. I must leave silently, and I might have to quit my job too if I intend on getting away from him completely."You'll never believe what I got today," Norah says excitedly. "Keep your voice down. You're going to get us fired," I scold.Everything about my job