Novels by John Authur

"Kaiden, you awake?" I asked, witnessing him trying to sit up as he groaned in pain. I found myself hastening to his side, helping him up properly. "You should be careful; you're still not well." I said, watching him let out a slight chuckle."What?" I questioned with a raised brow."It just feels off, not like you." He responded. He was right; this wasn't like me. I mean, I hated him so much, and here I was, helping him up and hoping he was alright. Was it because he saved my life? Because he was here, injured, all because of my sake? Or maybe it was after hearing his last name, knowing he might be related to Angelica. A hope that he might have answers to what happened to Angelica after the war broke out—if she was still alive.I left no response, taking my seat beside him, as he let out a sigh after sitting up properly. "I am sorry, ma'am." He uttered."Sorry?""I failed you. I couldn't protect you throughout. I was your bodyguard, and I failed at my duty.""You didn't, Kaiden. If y

I walked up to Sebastian, catching his eyes as I approached him."What are you doing down here, Scarlet—""Is it true, Sebastian?" I interjected. "Was this all because of you, just like the kidnapping? I was almost killed last night, Sebastian...""Enough of this now, Scarlet. You need to rest. I don't want any issues arising regarding your health now," he said, but his words only elicited a slight chuckle from me."My health?" I remarked. "And since when did you care about that, Sebastian? Really, what's going on? Why do I keep getting involved in everything? I had no idea who they were and why they wanted to kill me, only to find out now that they were trying to get back at you. I need to know now, Sebastian—who are you truly?" I asked, my eyes scanning his for answers, but all I was left with was his silence, which persisted for a while."There are some things which are best you don't get yourself involved in, Scarlet. Right now, your recovery is important, and that should be your

Loud gunshots echoed through the room as blood trickled. My eyes sprang open, only to realize it was all just a dream, as the rays of the sun that gleamed through the window caused my eyes to shut again. I tried removing my gaze from the blinding light, only to catch sight of Sebastian sitting on the bed near me."Are you—" he said, but in a blink, I found myself on him, my hands wrapped around him as I let out a sigh.I was trying to catch my words as they hoped to escape, remembering last night's incident with Kaiden almost shot and me almost killed.But wait, how did I end up here, then? The last thing I could remember was trying to run. As my gaze caught sight of Kaiden bleeding even more, I ran, going deeper into the forest...What happened next? I had no idea what took place next.I released my hands, retreating a bit as my gaze raised to meet Sebastian's."Are you alright?" he questioned, helping me back as I laid my head, resting back on the bed."What happened last night, Seb

"What happened, boss?" Darius asked, walking up to me as I returned my phone to my trousers. "I will kill them all. I will make sure I rip him from limb to limb.""Boss?""Get the vehicles ready, Darius. It seems we need to attend to some things," I said, my gaze returning to Nikolai, who remained there, his eyes fixed on mine. "I don't care who he is, Nikolai. I shall have his head, and I hope you help me get his location. That's all I need from you." I made my way out of the warehouse, entered my car, and drove off with a few of my men and Darius trailing me.Many thoughts swirled in my mind as I tried processing the situation. I could only hope they would hold up until I arrived there. Whoever this mystery Don is, I will make him pay. How dare he play such tricks? Really, I need to take care of every single one of them who lurks in the shadows, labeled as my enemy, plotting against me.Not long after, I arrived at the location Scarlet had dropped. Stepping out of my car with a few

"No!" I exclaimed.What was happening? Who was that stranger?Before I could make proper sense of what was unfolding before me, my eyes caught sight of the stranger approaching me with the pointed dagger. My mind could only scream one word, 'Run!' I stood up, hoping to flee, but my legs felt like jelly as I stumbled back onto the ground, my hands brushing against the dirt.I turned my gaze, watching the stranger getting closer with every inch."No, stay away, stay away," I muttered, trying to get on my feet to escape.It felt like a hit on my back as an excruciating pain tore through me."And where do you think you're going?" I heard the stranger utter. His grasp tightened on my neck, slamming me against the wall with his dagger poised, ready to drive deep into my flesh.Really, this couldn't be it; I couldn't die, not now. Mom still needed me; I wanted to see her get better, and I wanted to make Evelyn pay. But now it seemed like all my plans had been cut short, and here I was, facin

Scarlet's POV"And look who we have here?" My eyes landed on Evelyn walking up to my side. I wasn't surprised to run into her here."How may I be of help to my stepsister, or does she miss her father's restaurant so much that she came back running? Don't worry, I can be sure to hire you as the dishwasher, maybe. At least we are family," she said.I felt like strangling that witch. Her mere presence only seemed to ignite more anger within me. But I couldn't let go of what I had just learned from the detective—she had plotted my parents' death. I needed answers as to why she did that. I mean, the property was already hers, so why did she do that? I wanted to force her to spill it all out and then send her to jail afterward to rot for all her crimes.But now, knowing she had gone to such lengths to kill, I was sure that she was behind my mother's predicament. I was certain she was behind every single bit of it. And even knowing so much, all I could do was put on a fake act.I didn't want

[Sierra's POV]After some days staying in the hospital, I was discharged. I made my way out of the hospital supported by some men hired for my security, as I entered the back seat of the car with the driver starting the car engine. My gaze glanced through the dark street; it was late at night.It felt as though everything was complete—Uncle was in jail, and Nate was dead. Yet, why did I feel like I had nothing else to look up to?The people I most cherished were gone. The only one I saw next to me was Aunt Malisa. "I have to keep going for her sake..." I thought.The driver arrived at the mansion, and I stepped out, managing some footings. I made my way into the mansion but paused, noting the dark presence the mansion left."What happened to the lights..." I wondered. I wasn't able to tell anything—my heart raced as I took little steps. Was I maybe wrong to think everything was over?In a blink, the light came, causing me to shut my eyes suddenly from the reaction. "Welcome back, mam.

[Adrian's POV]"Uncle Gavin! I did it, Uncle Gavin!" Why was I seeing this memory now? I guess it's because of what occurred so far. The same man I saw as a father figure, the one I trusted so much, turned out to be the enemy.He trained me to be who I am today, but in the end... "Why, Uncle Gavin? Just why did you have to be the enemy?"I woke up, feeling the intense pain in my head. I tried sitting up, only to find Dominic sitting next to my side."You're awake, Adrian..." he said. Yet, I found only my gaze downcast."What happened? So it's over..." I questioned as Dominic replied, "Yes.""He died?" Should I be happy, knowing he was gone, or sad? A side of me claimed this was a victory, knowing all he had done, the fact that he was behind Mom's death from the very start. But why does my heart say something different? Those little tears that never ceased from falling down splattered on my hand."I know this is all hard to take in, Adrian. I also can't seem to understand everything th

All this while, I had thought it was Dominic. I wanted to make him pay so much, but, in the end, I teamed up with my mother's true murderer."Okay, that's enough now, Nate. Let her take it all in slowly. What more of a death would be greater than having them regret the whole life they have lived?" Damien said."Mom... I'm sorry, mom..." I whispered, those tears not ceasing. I felt something on my head. It was Nate aiming a pistol at my head. "Now, why don't I do you a favor and take you to that old hag?" he said, and my eyes shut in those moments as I heard a loud gunshot, causing my eyes to open back up."Do you think you can take down the De Santos that easily?" I heard Dominic, with a smirk playing on his lips. "I knew you would make a move, so I had a tracker inserted in my skin, and now you took the bait, dear Uncle Gavin," he said as more guns echoed through the area. They were coming from outside the room."We have to kill them fast, Father. We need to leave now," Damien said.

[Sierra's POV]"Sierra, wake up, Sierra!" I heard a voice as my eyes sprung open. I found myself tied to a chair, as Adrian and Dominic were also tied to chairs beside me."What are you doing here, Sierra?" Adrian asked, but shouldn't I be asking the same question? I had heard that he and Dominic went to attend the burial of one of the De Santos, but now I found the two of them here."That bastard; he must have spiked the wine," Dominic's voice cut in. He was also awake.But wait, does this mean they were both kidnapped and brought here from the burial? Who honestly was this enemy?I noticed another man tied to a chair, but his face was blindfolded with a sack mask, so I wasn't able to tell who he was.Just as I hoped to let a word out to Adrian, the door creaked, and I watched some men make their way inside."Who the hell do you think you all are to have Adrian De Santos here?" Adrian questioned, but was he expecting his name to help out here? I mean, these were people who had been h

[Adrian's POV]It had already been four months, and yet I found myself still unable to figure out who this enemy was. My mind still echoed the words I heard from Raglan after I paid him a visit. He mentioned that there was a third man; he was the one who seemed like the boss. But none of them had ever seen his face anywhere.After hearing that, I tried looking for any information, something that could tell me more about this third man, even visiting the experiment building again, yet I found nothing.The only thought I found myself guessing was that this third man was possibly the enemy, or he was working with the enemy, and the experiment seemed to be carried on.I had hired more men to help me figure out and fix this puzzle, conducting research and gathering information they could find."We have to go now, Adrian..." Dominic said. But why should we go? I wasn't even in full support of his death in the first place. One of the De Santos members had been killed again, and he wants us t

(Four Months Later)"Aunt Sierra! Aunt Sierra!" Zara's voice echoed in my mind. The last moment I heard her voice.I woke up as it was already morning, stepping down from the bed. I made my way to the bathroom and washed up.It had been four months already, and the bloodshed never seemed to have ceased. Many of the De Santos members were already gone, each dying in a cruel way.I wore my cloth, intending to step outside my room, only to find Aunt Marisa waiting."You should rest; you're not yet feeling well, Sierra." she said.I had a high fever last night, so it was expected of her to be this worried. After we met back at the party, I allowed her to live with us in the mansion."I have some things to attend to, Aunt Marisa. I will rest once I am back..." I said."Don't tell me you're going out to find the enemy, Sierra. I know it's not about work." she said. But I should expect her figuring things out. I had my father's company closed temporarily a month ago due to everything that oc