LOGINShare
Chapter 13: Haley
Last Updated:
2022-11-24 14:12:47Related chapters
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 14: Konstantin
Friday. Home, Arlington, VA.KONSTANTIN WAS UP EARLIER than normal. He hadn't been able to make himself sleep. Every time he closed his eyes it was a gamble what he would see.Haley's face.Or his mother's.His memories of the woman who'd born him were hazy. More than anything else, he remembered how she'd made him feel.Apprehension.Gut churning dread.Outright fear.He wouldn't wish any of that on his daughter. There was no way he'd allow that woman into their lives if she thought she could treat Zasha the same way she'd treated him.Ivana was more like a mother to him, but she'd always been just a little distant. Because she'd felt her loyalty was to his mother? He'd always assumed that was just how people of that generation were.Had Ivana still been loyal to his mother while in his employ? What were the chances Ivana knew where his mother had been all these years?He checked the time.Six.Still too early to have another chat with Ivana, but he was gr
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 15: Haley
HALEY WAS AWAKE BEFORE her alarm.She hadn't slept much or well, so it wasn't a surprise when her eyes popped open half an hour too early. Her thoughts bounced around, from the events surrounding Ivana to the kiss with Konstantin and right back to the fact that she wasn't going anywhere.How was she supposed to deal with him now?The girls hadn't been any help.After the initial outburst happened and they all got on the video call things had devolved. They each had their own stressors. Haley's eventful day was, in the grand scheme, normal. The women who did what they did faced down real threats. They didn't just wear a gun on their hip and hang around. If someone hired them they needed protection.Which was exactly why Haley would remain Zasha's primary security, though Haley didn't think Konstantin would like her plan.She got up and dressed, putting more thought than usual into selecting her clothes.Normally, Haley wanted to appear as inconspicuous as possible. Her war
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 16: Tasha
Friday. Rose House. Arlington, VA.TASHA CLOSED HER EYES and inhaled the delicate aroma of her morning brew. It was otherwise perfect, save for Nikolai hovering in the doorway.She sighed, exasperated, and set the cup down. "Yes, Nikolai?"The young man practically leapt over the threshold into the dining room. "There's a message for you."Tasha looked at Nikolai for a moment, but he didn't proceed. She waved her hand. "And what does it say?""Sorry, it's from Ivana. She says your son wants to have lunch.""Lunch." Tasha snorted. "This is what you're interrupting my breakfast for?"Nikolai blinked a few times. "I, uh, thought this was important."She rolled her eyes.Konstantin was a piece of a bigger picture."Wait until ten, oh, sixteen? Keep it random. At ten sixteen tell him I'll be delighted to have lunch with him, but it needs to be early. Say eleven thirty." It was fine and all for her son to make this move, but Tasha would remain in control."O-okay," N
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 17: Konstantin
Friday. Arlington, VA.KONSTANTIN TAPPED HIS FINGERS on the door handle of the car.He was early, but he wasn't an idiot. There was no way he was going inside the restaurant before eleven thirty. He was also woefully aware that he was out of his depth.His father was former KGB.His mother had managed to hide all these years without getting caught or raising suspicion.Konstantin was just a businessman and single father. Yes, he knew how these people operated and understood them, but he wasn't like them. That was his perceived flaw. He hadn't been a right fit for that world and everyone had known it.His phone chimed.He picked it up and read the message.Zasha, Ivana and their security detail had made it to their destination.Good.That was one detail he wouldn't have to worry about. The most difficult thing had been getting the laundry company to agree with their exit strategy. Konstantin had convinced the owner to allow his daughter and her detail to use their
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 18: Haley, Tasha
Friday. Home. Arlington, VA.HALEY HAD GIVEN UP the pretense of being calm.She was alone in the condo.She could freak out all she wanted."I just want to know what's going on," she whined at her phone.Lumen and Jennifer looked back at her from their squares on her screen."Have you considered talking to Merida about this?" Lumen asked."I talked to her last night, unofficially." Haley ran her fingers through her hair. She'd given up on keeping it pulled back an hour into this hell.Jennifer laughed. "About that kiss, I bet."Haley closed her eyes. "Do me a favor and pretend that didn't happen?""You know that's amping up your anxiety and stress right now, don't you?" Jennifer countered.Haley drew in a deep breath. "Yes, thank you, Jenn. Right now, Zasha is what is most important. Nothing else matters."Lumen leaned into the frame closer so that it was impossible to not look into her cool, blue eyes. "Have you really considered yourself in all of this? I m
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 19: Konstantin
Friday. Lake House. VA.KONSTANTIN STARED AT THE MONITORS.When was the last time they'd come out here and he'd used them?Usually he only brought one bodyguard with them. And Haley, but she didn't count. She spent all her time running after Zasha, exploring the lake front.It was so peaceful out here, but he didn't dare assume that just because it was quiet that they were also safe. His goal in coming out here was to be able to deal with this issue head on if his mother made a move.A flashlight showed up as a grainy bit of gray on one screen.That was the perimeter guard right on schedule.Part of him felt a pang of guilt for taking these men all the way out here. They'd been briefed on the situation and understood the potential danger. That didn't make Konstantin feel better about it.There was nothing else to be done. He'd taken the necessary measures to harm as few people as possible. The rest was out of his hands.He left the closet doors open in the room tha
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 20: Konstantin
Konstantin should go into the office or upstairs, but he didn't want to. Instead he soaked in the sight of Haley in his kitchen looking like she belonged. "What should I ask?"She shrugged. "What do you want to know?"Konstantin mentally flipped through what he knew of her. Parents were still alive. She was the middle of five kids. The second of two girls. The details he knew."What did you want to be growing up?" he asked."Oh, that's easy." She grinned. "I wanted to be a hero like my dad."Konstantin smiled. He hadn't met Haley's family, but he thought he'd like them. "How is he?""Good. Worried about us. He doesn't know what's going on, only that I'm stressed."Your family, are they proud of what you've done?""I think so. Oh, Mom still frets and worries over me, but I think she's just about accepted this is who I am."He propped his chin on his hand. He knew vague details, like she had three brothers and one sister, but nothing personal beyond some vague details a
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 21: Haley
HALEY CLUTCHED THE EDGE of the counter and stared at Konstantin's broad shoulders as he walked away from her.What the hell was she doing? She'd known down this path lay disaster, and she'd charged ahead, anyway. Now it wasn't her brain doing the talking. It was everything else. Her heart most of all.She hadn't missed the scorn when he talked about himself. For whatever reason, Konstantin saw himself as broken or lacking. It wasn't the first time, either. She couldn't begin to understand a childhood that had made him believe such things about himself, especially when she saw the little things no one else did. Like the carefully organized holiday care packages that went out to all of the entry-level workers across three companies. Konstantin protected his family time, but he gave freely to the community and charities.Those weren't the markers of a bad man.And then there was everything she saw at home, when no one else was watching. The way he was with his daughter. How he tre
Last Updated : 2022-11-24
Latest chapter
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 154: Epilogue.
Three months later. Ibiza.THEY SHOULD HAVE ELOPED.Lumen was ready to throw the silly bouquets into the water, scream at the top of her lungs and jump off the cliff herself. Alone.Jennifer appeared almost instantly. "Have a drink, you look stressed."Lumen considered the beverage. She'd meant to abstain from anything that might make her the least bit emotional until after the wedding, but right now it was just what the doctor ordered. She took the glass and downed the contents in two gulps."Way to chug," Jennifer snickered.Lumen thrust the glass back at her. "You. Shut it."Prudence burst in through the curtain, one sheer panel sticking to her bun of braids.Lumen jumped, startled by the sudden appearance. "Shit, what?""It happened," Prudence blurted.Lumen pressed her hand to her chest. "What happened? What now? Fucking hell, people. This is a wedding not... I don't know. What?"Prudence cringed. "I should have thought about this. You might not want to hear before th
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 153: Max
Sunday. Hotel, Boa Vista, Brazil.MAX WAS WAITING WITH a plate the moment Lumen appeared. Jennifer and Prudence both glared at him, but he managed to get Lumen's attention and steer her into the bedroom where their things had been left. He could tell that Lumen was exhausted and in more pain than she wanted to admit. Besides, she'd never been much for messy emotions and she'd already told him he loved her today. That alone would leave Lumen wanting to avoid groups."Oh, thank you." She settled on the edge of the bed and grimaced."You seemed to be kind of done."Lumen chuckled. "You still know me so well."Max offered her the sandwich. He wished he could give her more, but it was what was on hand for now.The desire to touch her was driving him crazy, but he didn't dare. Instead he retreated to the one arm chair in the room and sat at a safe distance. She might have forgiven him for today, but he kept replaying it and all the moments he should have acted differently.Maybe he
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 152: Lumen
Sunday. Hospital, Boa Vista, Brazil.LUMEN WASN'T SURE WHAT she liked the least, the pain or the way all the drugs made it feel as though she were moving through quicksand. Or that gel stuff the kids liked playing with.She sighed, only to be reminded that her ribs were. Not broken, so that was a relief. The fractures were tiny, hairline cracks, so in the scope of things it was nearly a best case situation. Didn't change the fact that right now she hurt like hell.A nurse with kind eyes stepped behind the curtain. She'd been working double time considering her grasp of English was the best of those currently working. "The doctor says you're good to go.""Thanks. Thank you. For everything. You've been a great help.""I chose the right time to come home, didn't I?" The nurse chuckled. "Do you want me to let your husband come back?"Husband.Lumen swallowed.In the confusion of arriving at the hospital, it had been easy to just let people draw the conclusion. Now, after Lumen ha
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 151: Lumen, Blair, Max
Sunday. Creed of Truth Sanctuary, Brazil.LUMEN FELT AS THOUGH she were being grilled alive lying in the bed of the pickup with the afternoon sun baking her. Her shoulder throbbed and if she breathed too deeply her ribs hurt. She didn't think they were broken. Fractured or bruised, but not broken. That was good.Thomas spat curses as he wrestled with the newly flat tire."Hurry up," Blair demanded.Lumen winced.That wasn't going to go over well."What did you say to me?" Thomas said in a dangerous tone.There was a heavy thud.Lumen imagined Thomas dropping the tire iron as he rose to direct his wrath at a new target."They're going to find us. We need to get clear of here," Blair said."What the fuck do you think I'm doing?""God, I never should have listened to you.""If it weren't for me, you'd be locked in your daddy's pleasure palace waiting on him to stick you with a needle and turn you into a good little daughter.""Shut up!" Blair roared. "Why don'
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 150: Max
Sunday. Creed of Truth Sanctuary, Brazil.THE DRAMA AT THE front gate dragged on.Max ground his teeth.They couldn't take off down the road without raising questions. They were stuck here, with all eyes on them, until someone made a move.He prayed Lumen was safe, that she could last a little longer."Canteens are full," Prudence said from the back of the SUV."Did we find sunblock? These meat heads won't think about that until it's too late," Jennifer said."Yeah, there's some." Prudence shifted behind Max. "Everything's ready. How's it looking out there?""The same," Vito replied. It was pretty much the only thing he'd said since indicating he would be going with them on this adventure.That left Brett and three other Aegis Group guys to guard Nabanita and her family. Those weren't great numbers given the situation, but Max was willing to believe they could hold their own."Have we heard from Zain?" Max asked."Nothing yet," Prudence replied.Max pulled ou
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 149: Lumen
Sunday. Creed of Truth Sanctuary, Brazil.LUMEN SAT ON THE bottom bunk watching the only door to the room, but it was still shut.Had Blair really not realized her phone was missing? Was something else going on?"Breakfast should have come by now," Buzz said for at least the fifth time, if not more. "Something's not right."That last bit was new.She turned her head and watched him pacing, eyes on the door like hers."Hey?" she said. "It's going to be okay.""You don't know that.""I do."She still hadn't told him what she'd done, though he'd seen. He had to have seen.He kept pacing, not listening to her at all.Poor kid, he'd been locked up for over a week from the sound of things. She doubted he'd had a lot of company."What's their reasoning keeping you locked up like this?" she asked to get him out of his own head."I don't know," Buzz said."Okay, well, what have they said? What do you know?""Nothing. I know nothing, okay?""I see."He sighed
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 148: Max, Blair
Sunday. Creed of Truth Sanctuary, Brazil.MAX SAT IN THE backseat of another SUV and watched as Nabanita and William once more tried to reason with the idiots at the gate.This time, however, there hadn't been just an attendant at the gate. They'd been met with four armed men who appeared to be from Sonny's personal guard. Just how many of them were there? A truck was parked in front of the entrance. There was no way to easily drive in.This was all Zain's plan.Max didn't pretend to understand the maneuvers, only that they were testing the waters today. Dangling Nabanita and William as a decoy was their aim."Think they've brought up the book?" Jennifer asked."If I were them I'd be sweating bullets," Prudence muttered.Orion glanced back and caught Max's eye.He looked away quickly. The last thing he wanted to do right now was talk."Notice anything off that we might not?" Orion asked.Max sighed and looked back at the gate. "Thomas isn't out there this time. H
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 147: Lumen
Sunday. Creed of Truth Sanctuary, Brazil.LUMEN LAY ON THE top bunk staring at the ceiling. Buzz had fallen asleep again finally.They'd spent most of the night doing that. Talking, drifting off into silence and sleeping a bit. Eventually one of them would wake up, then the other and it began again.He'd seemed to understand without her needing to say it that there were some things they just couldn't talk about.Buzz was a perceptive kid.Like his sister.It killed Lumen that they needed to be this grown up.Kids should get to be kids.She prayed Max and Aspen were safe, that they'd gotten to the others and were hatching some mad scheme. Lumen had no doubt that the girls wouldn't rest until she was sprung from this prison. Unlike Jennifer, Lumen knew the lengths her coworkers and friends would go to for one of their own. She'd never doubted the resolve of those she worked with. Aegis Group had become her family in a way.The real question was, how long would it tak
Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies Chapter 146: Max
Sunday. Safe House, Boa Vista, Brazil.THE GRAY DAWN BROKE on the horizon as Max and the others rolled through the front gate of the safe house. He eyed the surveillance men. They were mostly the same ones he'd seen before he'd left. Still the battle hardened faces of men who knew what they were doing.Which meant it was Sonny keeping an eye on them and bypassing Thomas.Max hadn't seen it until the very end, but there was a dividing line between Thomas and Sonny. The two didn't always know what the other was doing.Fuck all of them.Vito pulled the SUV into the garage where they could safely unload. They needed to keep Max and Aspen's whereabouts under wraps for as long as possible.It had taken them hours to land and get back. More time than he'd have thought necessary. All of which meant that Lumen was still back there. Alone. Going through who knew what.Max stuffed all the frustration down inside of him as he opened the SUV door and helped Aspen out. She'd held he
