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CHAPTER TEN
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2024-12-16 08:42:17
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A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER ELEVEN
The nagging feeling in my chest that someone was following me lingered even after I returned to the city. I wanted to drive straight home, search through my things, and confirm if the ring that had fallen from my jacket was what I thought it was. But the idea of unknowingly leading whoever was tailing me to my house made me rethink.My eyes darted to the rearview mirror for what felt like the fiftieth time. The cars behind me seemed normal, but paranoia clung to me, refusing to let go. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I briefly considered heading to the academy, but it was Saturday morning, so the place would be deserted. Besides, the thought of Reid waiting there for me to show up was ridiculousโhe was probably still shaken from yesterday's ambush No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake off the growing tension in my chest, like a rope being pulled tighter with each passing second. Missing fragments of memories from what had happened during the ambush still gnawed at me,
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-18A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER TWELVE
"...mhmm...bet. Aight, you know how messy them joints get, so I'd 'preciate it if you could...you know how it goes, man." Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "Gotchu. Yeah, for real, I know you got me, just slide me that piece I'm asking for, and I'll take care of the rest. Mmm...Good lookin' out. Bet." I stared at him blankly as he hung up the phone. This was the first time I'd ever heard Marcus talk like the black American that he was. It wasโฆkind of attractive. Ew. No. โSo?โ I asked, lifting my hands in a questioning gesture. I had no idea what he'd discussed, especially with how thick his accent had gotten. โWell, good news and bad news.โ He stuffed his phone into his pocket. His expression neutral. โOkay, start me with the bad news,โ I said, folding my arms to brace myself. โWe still don't have a lead on the ringโฆ.yet.โ I nodded, though my mood sank a little. โAnd the good news?โ โApparently, the ring has nothing to do with Klaus. My guy says, based on the descripti
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-19A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The warmth coursing through me was something I never wanted to end. My pulse quickened, my heart drumming softly as I tried to savor every fleeting second of this moment.Reid's lips brushed against mineโagain and againโthe sweet taste lingering like an unspoken promise. His hands tangled in my hair as he guided me back against the wall, his mouth never leaving mine.For a moment, it felt endless. Heck, I even dared to hope the kiss might lead to something more. But just as I was melting into the warmth of his body, the gentleness of his hands, the mingling of our breathsโhe pulled away. His forehead rested against mine as I opened my eyes, the ghost of his kiss still tingling on my lips.Disappointment threatened to creep in, but his thumb brushed over my bottom lip, silencing any protest.โI've been wanting to do that since after our first training session,โ he murmured.My gaze searched his, lingering on the way his eyes softened as he spoke. His own drifted to my lips before meeti
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-23A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kira sat stirring her drink absentmindedly, her eyes widening with every bit of tea I spilled. I'd left out the details about going undercover as a bodyguard, replacing it with a vague story about why he was at my house. I'd also kept Reid's name out of it, but the look on her face told me she still found the gist as interesting as I'd expected.โOkay, backup, sis. You've been secretly training with some guy in the janitor's closet for what, like two, three days? And now he shows up at your place, kisses you, and says he's ready to take things slow as long as you're interested?โI sipped my drink. โMhmm. It seems unreal, which is why I had to spill. I don't know if I should trust him and go with the flow or justโฆโ I shrugged.โAre you kidding me? If a hot guy who's super nice tracked me down just to ask me out, I'd totally say yes. I mean, it's giving old-school love, and I'm here for it, girl.โI laughed. Kira had a point. What Reid did was kind of understandable, given that I lied.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-12-27A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER FIFTEEN
โMarcus, I'm about to do something really stupid, but right now, I don't care. I'm sharing my location with youโjust in case things go south and I need backup.โ I ended the call and threw the phone onto the passenger seat of the rental car I hadn't returned yet.My grip tightened on the steering wheel, my foot pressing harder on the gas pedal as I picked up speed. I didn't have a plan, just a burning determination not to let the Windsors push me around.At this point, I didn't care about who I was confronting or their status. All I knew was that I was getting answers tonightโor all hell was going to break loose.The sun had set, darkness creeping in, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. Not when I had a pretty good idea who was behind the root cause of my problems.I made a sharp turn, the shimmering lake coming into view as the road straightened ahead. My jaw clenched at the sight of the Windsor mansion. It no longer felt intimidatingโjust infuriating.Pulling up to the front, I
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-05A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I sank into my seat, regret flooding my chest as the reality of my actions hit me. Reid reached over, his hands covering mine where it rested on my lap.โHey, it's going to be okay. I promise, I won't let anything happen to you,โ he said softly.I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. โThis is all my fault. I should've thought it through before challenging someone like Klaus.โโNo,โ he said firmly. โIt's not your fault. My dad can beโฆprovoking. I'm sure whatever he did must've really pushed you to react that way and I get it.โ He brushed away a tear slipping down my cheek, his thumb warm and steady, before resting his hand over mine again. โBut now we've got to figure out a way forward. What I'm about to suggest might sound crazy, but it's our best option.โI turned to him, dread already curling in my stomach. I could guess what he was about to say.โNo. Reid, there are about a hundred of them, and only two of us.โโIt's thirty-five bikers,โ he corrected. โand we're not taking all o
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-05A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Marcus gave me a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, his gaze fixed on Reid as he answered. โSaving your ass, apparently. I didn't know we had company.โ I looked between him and Reid, confusion prickling at the back of my mind. โOh, I thought you two know each other? Reid is the reason I'm still alive, if I'm being honest.โ Marcus didn't respond. Not a single word to acknowledge Reidโs presence. Instead, he shifted his attention to the rearview mirror, his expression unreadable. Reid, seemingly unfazed, followed his lead, both of them watching the road for any sign of the remaining bikers. โI thought you two knew each other?โ I asked, this time directing my question to Reid. โWe do,โ Reid said with a grin that could only be described as infuriatingly smug. โBut I'm guessing he doesn't fancy seeing you alone with me, given that I'm exceptionally handsome.โ I rolled my eyes at his audacity. โPlease. Marcus couldn't care less. He probably just wasn't expecting to see you
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-09A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The first thing I registered was the sharp scent of antiseptic, sterile and suffocating. My eyelids felt like lead, but I managed to crack them open, squinting against the harsh glare of fluorescent lights overhead. Everything was a blurโwhite walls, beeping machines, and the faint hum of voices. My side throbbed with a dull ache, and when I shifted slightly, a sharper pain shot through me, forcing a groan from my lips.I wasn't alone.The voices became clearer as I forced myself to focus. Marcus and Reid stood a few feet away, their sides partially turned toward me. They spoke in low tones, their voices charged with tension.โYou know you're endangering her, right?โ Marcus's voice was tight, each word cutting through the quiet.โI know what I'm doing, Marcus. With her in the mansion, things will be a lot easier,โ Reid countered smoothly.โYeah, easier for you.โ Marcus sneered, jabbing a finger at Reid's chest. โDo you know what Klaus will do to her when he finds out?โReid raised his
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-01-12
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A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The moment Adam flicked his fingers, his men lunged.Reid didnโt hesitateโhe shoved me aside, sending me stumbling against the bar. My hands grasped at the counter, my vision swimming from the alcohol, but I forced myself to focus. The first attacker swung for Reidโs jaw. Reid ducked, sharp and controlled, and drove his fist into the guyโs ribs. A sickening crack echoed through the now-silent club. The man staggered back, gasping for air, but Reid didnโt stopโhe pivoted and slammed his elbow into the next attackerโs throat, dropping him instantly.Another man rushed from behind, but Reid twisted, caught his wrist, and drove a knee into his stomach. The man crumpled with a grunt, but Reid didnโt spare him a glance before turning to the next threat.Adam stood smirking, watching it all unfold.A chair scraped from behind me as another man charged for Reid with a broken bottle. Reid was faster. He sidestepped, letting the man fall forward before grabbing him by the neck and, with a sick
A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
โ...that's crazy. I always got irritated by my siblings, but sadly, they passed away. Now Iโll do anything to hear their nagging.โ I traced a finger along the rim of my untouched glass.โOh... I'm sorry for your loss,โ Adam said, downing his drink in one go.His sixth glass, and he still looked perfectly sober. I was getting tired of the small talk, but Adam didnโt seem to notice. At least he was more of a talker.โSo.. is it still a touchy subject? Do you wanna talk about it?โI rubbed the nape of my neck, shaking my head slightly. โYeah, I'd appreciate it if we skipped that. Speaking of which, I couldnโt help but notice your necklaceโit looksโฆ unique.โโit is.โ He ran his fingers over the ring. โA family heirloom? Passed from your grandma to your mom, then to your future wife?โHe tipped his head back and laughed. โYou're the first person to think that. It's rare for someone not to recognize what this ring stands for.โ He gestured for the bartender to refill his glass, his gaze sha
A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-FIVE The deep bass of music pulsed through the air, reaching us even as we parked across the street from the club. I turned to Reid, giving him a skeptical look.โHere? May I ask why?โโTwo words,โ he said, stepping out of the car and flexing his injured arm, counting off on his fingers. โInformation. Fun.โ I hesitated before getting out, my discomfort growing. I had never been to a club beforeโlet alone with someone I was struggling to trust.โYou know, when you said, โI know somewhere we can goโโespecially in that toneโa club wasn't exactly on my list of guesses.โโIt ain't that bad. You'll see.โI followed him across the road toward the club. A massive neon sign glowed from the rooftop, reading Lustra Lounge in elegant, golden letters. My brows shot up as I took in the upscale exterior.โHold up, I thought you had to be invited to get into boujee clubs like these,โ I said, stopping in my tracks.Reid smirked. โYou forget who you're walking with. I can bring whoever I want
A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The sharp groan that escaped from Reid's lip almost made me stop dead in my tracks to tend to him, but he yanked the car open and shoved me inside, never breaking his pace.โReid, you're hurtโโโIt's nothing,โ he snapped, his focus locked straight ahead.From the trees in the graveyard, the shooter emerged into the open, gun aimed directly at our car as Reid started the engine.โEugene, get down.โ โWhatโโโDammit, Eugene! Just do as I say and stop worrying about me.โ His sudden outburst stunned me into obedience. I ducked under the passenger seat, hands clamped over my head. Reidโs left arm was bleeding heavily now, but he didnโt seem to care. Instead, he pressed down on the accelerator, the tires screeching against the pavement as we lunged forward. A gunshot cracked through the air, shattering the graveyardโs eerie silence.The windshield in front of Reid burst apart, a bullet embedding itself exactly where his head should have beenโif he hadnโt moved at the last second.I gasped
A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
To think I'd forgotten all about Mabel over the past eleven yearsโafter she failed her promise and let me get adopted into one nasty familyโwhen the memory held missing pieces to a puzzle I hadn't even realized I was trying to solve.I glared at Reid. Had she told him now? Was it even my place to say anything? What if she had actually set things in motion for me to meet her son? A thousand questions raced through my mind, so fast that I didn't even realize I'd been staring at Reid for too long.โI brought you here to answer a few of your questions, but it seems like it triggered some memories instead. Mind sharing?โโWhat happened to her?โ The question slipped out before I could think of anything else. I needed to know how she ended up dead.Reid shifted his gaze back to the gravestone. โShe hadโฆ.cancer.โโI'm so sorry.โHe pressed his lips into a thin line, tucking his hands into his pockets. โYeah. So spill. Did you know my mom?โI sucked in a slow breath, unsure how much I was allo
A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Eleven years agoโฆ. The memories came rushing back, like shadows slipping from the dark corners of my mindโhidden, but never truly forgotten. It was the winter of my tenth year, and the orphanage was as bleak as ever. The walls were cold and lifeless, their chipped paints matching the despair that clung to the air. The other kids werenโt exactly cruel, but their indifference stung in its own way. I was used to being invisibleโbetter that than the target of their whispered jokes. That day, I sat in the farthest corner of the communal room, my gaze fixed on the frosted window pane. Outside, the world was muted under a dull gray sky, the kind of overcast that promised snow but rarely delivered. A light dusting of snow clung to the ground, but the air was too dry for much more. When a sleek black Mercedes pulled into the driveway, it immediately caught my attention, and moments later, a woman stepped out, her every move radiating grace. She wore a navy coat, cinched neatly at the waist,
A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
โWhy did you come?โ I asked the instant I shut the door. I'd wanted to see him, sure, but I didn't expect him to show up unannounced. It was almost as though he had read my mind. Reid gave me a condescending smile, strolling casually around my room with his hands in his pockets. โAren't you going to offer me a seat?โ I folded my arms and shot him a glare. โNot until you tell me why you're here.โ โFine,โ he said, collapsing into the single chair in my my apartment. โAsk whatever you want. I'll tell you everything.โ I eyed him warily. โAnd how do I know you'll actually tell the truth?โ He shrugged. โI guess you'll just have to trust me.โ โTrust?โ I snorted. โReid, it's exactly like Marcus saidโWindsors don't get to use that word.โ He chuckled, the sound sharp and humourless. โSpeaking of Marcus, let's start there. What lies has he been feeding you? Come on, spill. I'm sure he's painted quite the picture of me.โ โAs a matter of fact, he hasn't told me a thing about you. Fr
A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER TWENTY
The silence between us stretched thin as I tried to process Marcus's words. It was like staring at a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces jagged and mismatched, but I could see the faint outlines of a picture emergingโand I didn't like what it showed.โThe person responsible for my family's deathโฆ.is the one coming after Reid?โ I repeated, my voice hollow.Marcus nodded. โThat's what it looks like.โโOkayโฆand if I'm following you, you think Reid might beโฆ?โMarcus nodded. โI know we don't have proof, but Iโve got this gut feeling that Reid has a hidden agenda, and I'm not about to wait to find out. So, we're leaving town.โI raised an eyebrow, taken aback. โWhoa, you don't get to make that decision for me.โโCome on, Osborn, what's there to think about? Would you rather stay knowing your lifeโs at risk? Or leave knowing you'll be safe?โI scoffed and opened my mouth to argue, but no words came outโonly a short, incredulous gasp. โWhat about the academy? You're really going to give up all of tha
A game of dangerous loyaltiesย ย ย CHAPTER NINETEEN
I swallowed hard, raising my hand in surrender. โFine. I'll go with you. But for God's sake, put the damn gun away. You know I hate guns.โThe pressure against my back eased, and I exhaled a shaky breath, relief washing over me.โSorry,โ Marcus muttered, slipping the gun back into his waistband. โI just wanted you to come with me.โโThen, jeez, just ask,โ I snapped, running a hand through my hair. โInstead of pulling this whole kidnap-the-kid routine.โHe sighed, dragging a hand over his face. โI'm not thinking straight, Eugene. I justโฆI just know we have to get out of here.โโOkay, but at least tell me where we're going,โ I pressed.Marcus opened his mouth, hesitating before clamping it shut. He shook his head. โYou just have to trust me, okay?โI folded my arms and leaned back on my heels, scrutinizing him. If he'd said this an hour ago, I probably would've followed him without question. But after that conversation with Reid, trust wasn't coming as easily. I needed answers.โI want
