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The car ride started off peacefully, with the engine's quiet hum and streetlights' soft glow flashing through the tinted windows. Ellie had been laughing just moments ago, still chuckling over one of Damian’s ridiculous dares. But as soon as she asked the driver how long it would take to take me home, and he replied, her posture changed.She tensed, her fingers suddenly latching onto my hand with surprising force.I turned to her, confused. “Ellie—”“Where’s the usual driver?” She interrupted, her voice still smooth but noticeably sharper.The man didn’t even flinch. “He had an emergency,” he answered. “I’m his replacement.”My stomach twisted. Something about the way he said it, so casually, so unconcerned, made my skin prickle with unease.Ellie didn’t respond right away. A second passed. Then another. Her fingers twitched slightly against mine, like she was weighing her options. I heard the tiniest, almost imperceptible intake of breath before she slowly reached for the door handle
The car finally jerked to a stop after a few hours, its tires crunching over uneven ground. My heart pounded violently against my ribs as the driver turned in his seat and sneered, “Get out.”Ellie’s fingers wrapped around my wrist, and she leaned in close, her breath warm against my ear. “Remember what I said,” she whispered. “Don’t worry—I’ll be right behind you.”My panicked mind scrambled to recall her words. Run. She had told me to run the moment she gave the signal. it made me feel much better that she would be with me as I did.I swallowed hard and gave her the tiniest nod to show I understood.“I thought he told you two to get out!” The other man barked impatiently.As we stepped out of the car, I noticed Ellie subtly slipping her hand into her purse, fingers curling around something small and cylindrical. The dim lighting made it hard to see exactly what it was, but I knew better than to believe it was anything harmless.After getting out of the car, we faced our captors, the
We both froze instantly, our breath catching in our throats, unable to let it out for fear of making a sound. In the dim glow of the moonlight filtering through the warehouse’s cracked windows, I could see the same horror mirrored on Ellie’s face. “I swear I heard talking here,” one of the men muttered as two figures stepped inside. “They can’t have come this far,” the other scoffed. “I think you’re just imagining things." then silence "Fine, let’s just take a quick look.” Ellie’s grip on my hand tightened, and I could feel the faint tremor in her fingers. In the darkness, I saw her other hand inch toward her purse, reaching for the pepper spray canister again. Her lips barely moved as she whispered, “We need to leave. Slowly.” I gave a tiny nod, my pulse pounding in my ears. Luckily, the two men had wandered deeper into the warehouse, away from the only entrance. We moved cautiously, each step careful and doing everything to avoid making a sound. We were so close. Just a few
Ellie and I crept forward cautiously, our bodies still tense from the fear that had gripped us all night. The voices outside were getting clearer, but we couldn’t be sure if they belonged to a friend or foe. My heart pounded in my chest, my pulse roaring in my ears as we peeked around the rusted metal door. Then I saw them. Alaric and Damian. They stood near the cluster of black SUVs, heads bent together as they talked frantically, their expressions thick with worry. It was a rare sight—Alaric, always composed, and Damian, always carefree, now both looking visibly shaken. Before I could even process it, Ellie and I took a hesitant step forward. That was all it took. They spotted us. Their expressions shifted instantly, pure relief washing over their faces as their eyes locked onto us. They broke into a run. Ellie barely had time to react before Damian reached her first, yanking her into his arms with such force she let out a soft gasp. He buried his face in her shoulder, hi
After being treated, all I wanted was to go home and shower. Hospitals had always made me uneasy—the too-bright lights, the sterile scent of antiseptic, the hushed voices that carried an air of urgency, sadness and dread. I turned to Ellie, who was sitting beside me, scrolling through her phone. "Are you going to be fine alone? I would really like to head home," I told her, stretching slightly, my body still sore from everything that had happened. She looked up and studied me for a moment before nodding. "I’ll be fine. My parents just texted me—they’re close." Relieved, I gave her a small smile before I stood to leave. Alaric had been waiting outside, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall, ever the picture of casual authority. As soon as he saw me, his posture relaxed slightly. "Ready?" he asked. I nodded, and together we made our way toward the exit. We had barely turned a corner when we spotted a couple walking toward us. They had an air of aristocracy abo
As our lips stayed locked, his hands roamed the entirety of my back, his touch leaving trails of fire in their wake. Then, without warning, he gripped me firmly under my thighs and lifted me effortlessly, pressing me against the wall. A gasp escaped me, but he swallowed it with another searing kiss, his lips moving hungrily over mine. His mouth left mine, tracing a path down my jaw, kissing and sucking at the sensitive skin near my ear. “I want you so bad,” he whispered, his voice thick with need. “I can’t take it anymore.” A shiver ran through me as he turned us around, still holding me effortlessly, his lips trailing down my neck. Before I knew it, I was being tossed onto the bed, the air leaving my lungs in a shaky exhale. Our eyes locked. Slowly, he reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and revealing the body I had only caught glimpses of before. I thought I had imagined how beautiful he looked beneath all those tailored suits, but I hadn’t. His
Chapter One: The sharp, metallic tang of blood filled my mouth as I lay motionless on the cold, hard floor. My body was too weak, too battered, and my vision blurred as the darkness slowly edged in. I could feel the warm pool beneath me, spreading wider, soaking through my clothes and into my skin, but my hands were useless now, trembling as they pressed in vain against the deep wound in my side. Each breath came in shallow, jagged gasps, burning my lungs, and I was choking—on blood, on shock, on disbelief. How did it come to this? How could it be her? Above me, Lisa stood—calm, poised, as if this was all a casual affair to her. Her carefully curated mask was down now, revealing the disgust and hatred in the familiar face I once trusted more than anyone in the world. I blinked, my mind struggling to process, to understand how my best friend, my closest confidante, was now the one watching me die. My body was shutting down, but my mind—my mind was still alive, still refusing to acc
Tears welled up in my eyes, my throat tightening with a sob that I couldn't release. My family—mother, father, brother gone. Every single one of them. And Lisa had been behind it all. My best friend, the person I trusted more than anyone, had orchestrated their downfall. The pain, the grief that followed, it all began with her. “Why?” I gasped, choking on the word, barely able to breathe as the horror of it set in. “Why would you do this?” Lisa stopped pacing then, standing over me with that same smile, that twisted, hateful smile. “Because I could,” she said simply. “Because it was fun.” Fun. Destroying my family had been fun for her. “And Josh?” I forced the question out, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer. Lisa’s smirk widened. “Oh, Josh. He was such a perfect little pawn, wasn’t he? At first, he didn’t believe me when I started whispering those little lies about you. That you were selfish, that you didn’t care about him. But after a while, I gave him reasons to
As our lips stayed locked, his hands roamed the entirety of my back, his touch leaving trails of fire in their wake. Then, without warning, he gripped me firmly under my thighs and lifted me effortlessly, pressing me against the wall. A gasp escaped me, but he swallowed it with another searing kiss, his lips moving hungrily over mine. His mouth left mine, tracing a path down my jaw, kissing and sucking at the sensitive skin near my ear. “I want you so bad,” he whispered, his voice thick with need. “I can’t take it anymore.” A shiver ran through me as he turned us around, still holding me effortlessly, his lips trailing down my neck. Before I knew it, I was being tossed onto the bed, the air leaving my lungs in a shaky exhale. Our eyes locked. Slowly, he reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and revealing the body I had only caught glimpses of before. I thought I had imagined how beautiful he looked beneath all those tailored suits, but I hadn’t. His
After being treated, all I wanted was to go home and shower. Hospitals had always made me uneasy—the too-bright lights, the sterile scent of antiseptic, the hushed voices that carried an air of urgency, sadness and dread. I turned to Ellie, who was sitting beside me, scrolling through her phone. "Are you going to be fine alone? I would really like to head home," I told her, stretching slightly, my body still sore from everything that had happened. She looked up and studied me for a moment before nodding. "I’ll be fine. My parents just texted me—they’re close." Relieved, I gave her a small smile before I stood to leave. Alaric had been waiting outside, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall, ever the picture of casual authority. As soon as he saw me, his posture relaxed slightly. "Ready?" he asked. I nodded, and together we made our way toward the exit. We had barely turned a corner when we spotted a couple walking toward us. They had an air of aristocracy abo
Ellie and I crept forward cautiously, our bodies still tense from the fear that had gripped us all night. The voices outside were getting clearer, but we couldn’t be sure if they belonged to a friend or foe. My heart pounded in my chest, my pulse roaring in my ears as we peeked around the rusted metal door. Then I saw them. Alaric and Damian. They stood near the cluster of black SUVs, heads bent together as they talked frantically, their expressions thick with worry. It was a rare sight—Alaric, always composed, and Damian, always carefree, now both looking visibly shaken. Before I could even process it, Ellie and I took a hesitant step forward. That was all it took. They spotted us. Their expressions shifted instantly, pure relief washing over their faces as their eyes locked onto us. They broke into a run. Ellie barely had time to react before Damian reached her first, yanking her into his arms with such force she let out a soft gasp. He buried his face in her shoulder, hi
We both froze instantly, our breath catching in our throats, unable to let it out for fear of making a sound. In the dim glow of the moonlight filtering through the warehouse’s cracked windows, I could see the same horror mirrored on Ellie’s face. “I swear I heard talking here,” one of the men muttered as two figures stepped inside. “They can’t have come this far,” the other scoffed. “I think you’re just imagining things." then silence "Fine, let’s just take a quick look.” Ellie’s grip on my hand tightened, and I could feel the faint tremor in her fingers. In the darkness, I saw her other hand inch toward her purse, reaching for the pepper spray canister again. Her lips barely moved as she whispered, “We need to leave. Slowly.” I gave a tiny nod, my pulse pounding in my ears. Luckily, the two men had wandered deeper into the warehouse, away from the only entrance. We moved cautiously, each step careful and doing everything to avoid making a sound. We were so close. Just a few
The car finally jerked to a stop after a few hours, its tires crunching over uneven ground. My heart pounded violently against my ribs as the driver turned in his seat and sneered, “Get out.”Ellie’s fingers wrapped around my wrist, and she leaned in close, her breath warm against my ear. “Remember what I said,” she whispered. “Don’t worry—I’ll be right behind you.”My panicked mind scrambled to recall her words. Run. She had told me to run the moment she gave the signal. it made me feel much better that she would be with me as I did.I swallowed hard and gave her the tiniest nod to show I understood.“I thought he told you two to get out!” The other man barked impatiently.As we stepped out of the car, I noticed Ellie subtly slipping her hand into her purse, fingers curling around something small and cylindrical. The dim lighting made it hard to see exactly what it was, but I knew better than to believe it was anything harmless.After getting out of the car, we faced our captors, the
The car ride started off peacefully, with the engine's quiet hum and streetlights' soft glow flashing through the tinted windows. Ellie had been laughing just moments ago, still chuckling over one of Damian’s ridiculous dares. But as soon as she asked the driver how long it would take to take me home, and he replied, her posture changed.She tensed, her fingers suddenly latching onto my hand with surprising force.I turned to her, confused. “Ellie—”“Where’s the usual driver?” She interrupted, her voice still smooth but noticeably sharper.The man didn’t even flinch. “He had an emergency,” he answered. “I’m his replacement.”My stomach twisted. Something about the way he said it, so casually, so unconcerned, made my skin prickle with unease.Ellie didn’t respond right away. A second passed. Then another. Her fingers twitched slightly against mine, like she was weighing her options. I heard the tiniest, almost imperceptible intake of breath before she slowly reached for the door handle
Anna’s POVAfter Alaric left, I decided to take full advantage of the free day ahead of me. I changed into something comfortable—an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of soft shorts—then grabbed a blanket and plopped onto the massive sectional in the living room.With the remote in hand, I scrolled through streaming options before finally settling on a show I’d been meaning to catch up on. The enormous flat-screen was a luxury I had always looked forward to using, and I sank deeper into the couch, fully immersing myself in the fictional world playing before me.Hours passed in a haze of binge-watching and snacking. It was the most relaxed I had felt in a long time, and for once, I didn’t let my mind wander to things like fake engagements, intimidating fathers, or the fact that I’d told Alaric last night that I wanted him to kiss me. Nope. Not thinking about that at all.Just as I was about to start another episode, my phone buzzed beside me. I grabbed it, squinting at the unknown number
As I drive toward my parents’ estate, my mind is already running through all the possible things they might want to discuss. My engagement. Why I didn’t tell them. And most importantly, why my fiancée is my assistant. I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face, already feeling the weight of the conversation before it even happens. My mother won’t be too difficult to deal with. She’s always been the more understanding one, even if she had her own hopes for my future. Since we were young, she had subtly pushed for me to marry Eleanor, since she was the daughter of her close friend turned sister. A perfect match in her eyes—elegant, poised, well-connected. But I never saw Eleanor that way. Maybe because of my distrust toward Damian back then. Maybe because I had no interest in a marriage of convenience. Either way, I never considered her as an option. Despite her wishes, I know my mother well enough to believe that, at the end of the day, she would put my happiness first. Even if she might
I turned to leave, my heart hammering in my chest, but then—"Anna."I froze mid-step, the sound of my name rolling through the steam-filled room like a slow, lingering caress.Another groan followed, rough and guttural, filled with something that sent a shiver down my spine.My fingers curled into fists at my sides.I should leave. I should pretend I heard nothing. I should not—under any circumstances—stay here, pulse racing, heat coiling low in my stomach, wondering…But he said my name. That meant I had a reason to check, right? Maybe he needed something. Maybe he was hurt. Maybe I just wanted an excuse.Swallowing hard, I took a careful step forward, tiptoeing closer to the slightly ajar bathroom door. The steam curled outward, warm and thick, licking at my skin like an invitation. My heart pounded against my ribs as I nudged the door open just a bit more.And then—oh.The glass surrounding the shower was clear.Completely, mercilessly see-through.My breath hitched, and I immedia