Adrian's bedroom was very except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor attached to Adrian. His unconscious body laid still on the bed. His clothes still blood soaked. The doctor had to cut it up to treat the bullet wound on his chest. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic. The chilling chaos of what happened could not be forgotten. Kayla sat beside him, her fingers entwined with his, her firm grip as if , if she held onto him tightly, it would keep him from slipping away from her. She hadn't eaten or slept. Infact, she hadn't left his side since they brought him back home. Ethan and Clarissa had insisted she refreshed herself and sleep, but how could she do that? How could she sleep or eat or feel calm knowing that the man she loves is in this state. Her eyes became weak with exhaustion yet she refuses to rest them. Every few minutes sger check him anything unusual. She didn't want to miss him waking up. The bullet had oy missed his heart by a few inches Ethan hov
Kayla gripped her phone with trembling fingers, her knuckles turning hardening The weight of everything—being kidnapped, nearly killed, watching Adrian bleed—had built up inside her like a tornado waiting to explode. And now, standing in Adrian’s hallway, she was ready to unleash it all on the one man who had chosen business over his own daughter.The phone rang. Once. Twice.Then her father’s voice came through, calm and unconcerned as always. "Kayla."She didn’t mince words. "Cut ties with Victor." Her voice was sharp, edged with restrained fury. "End every single business deal with him. I’m not asking—I’m telling you."A pause. Then a scoff. "Telling me?" Her father let out a dry chuckle. "You forget your place, Kayla."Her grip tightened. "My place? Do you have any fucking idea what I’ve just been through in the past few weeks? Victor kidnapped me. He tied me to a chair and held a gun to my head like I was nothing! And you want to talk about my place?"A heavy silence followed be
Adrian leaned back against his bed's headboard, his shirt slightly open, revealing the bandages still wrapped around his chest.. Though the pain lingered, it had dulled into a manageable ache, allowing him to be more mobile and active a little bit.She sat beside him, her hands enterwined with his, her eyes scanning his face as if memorizing every single details .For days, she had barely left his side, sge has only left to either bathe or when the doctor came in to check and dress his wound.“I'm so glad that you are recovering really fast. You had me scared for a minute.,” she muttered, her voice thick with emotion.Adrian smirked, his fingers brushing against hers. “I told you baby girl, I'm not that easy to kill."Kayla swallowed hard, looking away. “That’s not the point, Adrian. I had endangered your life. I put you in this condition and I'm so sorry, deeply sorry."The vulnerability in her voice sent a pang through his chest. He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her e
Victor leaned back against the leather chair in his dimly lit office, rotating his chair as his cold gaze fixed on Fiona. The lighting in the room isn't even helping matters. It makes everywhere look eerie.. He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the polished surface of his desk, the silence between them suffocating Fiona, she kept thinking why he must have summoned her in such a haste.. Fiona stood before him, her heart pounding, her hands clenched at her sides in fear."You will kill Kayla," Victor said, his voice disturbingly calm for the words he just uttered.Fiona's breath hitched. Her fingers curled into fists as her body tensed. "What?" she whispered, as if she had misheard.Victor leaned forward, a slow, menacing smirk playing on his lips. "I know You heard me, Fiona. If you don't do it, I'll kill you myself. And trust me, it won’t be quick or painless."Fiona felt her stomach drop. She had played dangerous games before, but this… this was beyond anything she had ever imagined
"No, no , What have you done Fiona?". Kayla said shocked," I thought we had a deal Fiona!!!!!", she yelledFootsteps echoed from the shadows, and one by one, Victor’s men emerged, their faces cold, their weapons visible. Kayla stiffened, her hands curling into fists as a defense tool also her mind raced for an escape plan. And then he appeared.Victor stepped into the dim glow of the hanging bulbs, his expression bubbly, his dark eyes dancing with amusement. He took slow, calculated steps toward her, clapping his hands mockingly.“Well, well, well… Look what we have here,” Victor said , stopping just a few feet away. His smirk deepened as he tilted his head, eyes flickering with something stupidly amusing to him. “Did you really think Fiona would really betray me for you?"Kayla swallowed hard but kept her face blank. “What do you want, Victor?, why are you always after us?"He let out a low chuckle. “You see, I’ve been doing some digging. And I must say, I stumbled upon something…
Ethan tightened his grip on the steering wheel, maneuvering his way through the traffic like a pro. He stole a glance at Kayla through the rear mirror. She wasapplying pressure with a cloth to her wound, her face pale, but her eyes— held something more than the pain she was supposed to be feeling."Say something please," she whispered, her voice hoarse.Ethan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "What in God's name do you expect me to say, Kayla? That I didn’t just hear Victor call you Elora? That I didn’t just watch you stand there like a deer in headlights instead of denying it properly?"Kayla swallowed hard. "Ethan, please, don’t tell Adrian. Not yet."Ethan let out a sad chuckle. "Not yet? Kayla, you knew all this time but didn't tell him?, you've been living with him, lying beside him all these time and yet you didn't tell him the damn truth?!!!" His voice rose, but he forced himself to be calm and focus on the road before he ends up causing an accident.Kayla reached out, touchin
Ethan sat at the edge of the bed, rubbing his palm against his jeans as he stared with admiration at Clarissa who was fussing with her earrings in the mirror. She looked effortlessly beautiful even in silence, and the softness of her reflection is just a marvelous sight to behold. It made him feel so proud of himself.“Don't you ever stop to reason how we ended up here , together?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with love and sincerity.Clarissa turned, surprised by his tone. “Here? Like… here together?”He nodded slowly. “Yeah. With all the that gave way to our meeting , you’re still the one thing that feels right. You’re my very own calm in the storm,Rissa."Her lips curled into a small smile, and she walked over to him, sitting on his legs as her fingers ran through his hair. “You’re not that bad yourself. Even with that stubborn temper and your overprotective and hidden instincts."He let out a low laugh. “What can I say? I’d rather be hated for being overprotective than mourn the
The weather today was so good and warm. The ray of morning sun peeked Into the room through the glass, casting golden shadows. Adrian laid on the bed, one arm tucked behind his head, while the other wrapped around Kayla's waist, keeping her as close as possible. She laid on his chest, her fingers tracing from his face to his chest, their legs tangled. No words were spoken, none was needed. Not today, not even in this sweet moment."You know, I wish we could stay like this forever." Kayla spoke softly against his chest.Adrian smiled, giving her a kiss on her forehead. " Then let's never move. Let's just stay like this forever and ever "I just wish we could just live a peaceful life, like going for walks in the park or something without watching our backs."she said sadly."Hey baby, don't even be like that. Sooner than later, we'd be able to do everything that you love. All I know is , at the very end, we'd be fine. A flush crept up her cheeks and she tried to look away but he hel
Cipher stepped into the dimly lit chamber, seated there was a man dressed in leather behind the desk. Shadows clung to the corners of the room, swallowing every ounce of warmth. The boss didn’t even lift his eyes from the scotch glass in his hand.“Well?” the man’s voice came, calm but authoritative “It’s done,” Cipher replied firmly. “I planted the bomb underneath the building as planned. They are all dead.A slow nod followed. The boss swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his gaze distant, thoughtful.“No one survived?” he asked again, this time with a slight edge. “You’re absolutely sure?”Cipher hesitated a moment before straightening. “Yes. I made sure everything went according to plan. Kayla. Adrian. Victor. Ethan. Clarissa. They were all in the building when it blew.”The boss finally looked up, his steel-grey eyes pinning Cipher in place. “And you’re confident that no one saw you?"“No one,” Cipher responded obedientlyThe boss rose to his feet with the elegance of a lion
The message sent had been simple, cryptic, and said to be of utmost importance. No name. No sender. Just a location and time.Adrian read it twice, jaw tightening. His instincts buzzed with curiosity and doubt.Across the city, Ethan stared at the same message, eyebrows furrowed. “What the hell is this?” he muttered. Clarissa leaned over his shoulder. “Whats this supposed to mean.are you going to go"?“I don’t know. But I feel like I should.”Victor laughed coldly as he pocketed the message. “Nice try, bastards. Let’s see what you have planned. I know for a fact Adrian is doing this."Kayla clutched her phone nervously. “Adrian, did you get this?”He nodded. “We’re going. I’ll have men surrounding the area. Stay close to me and you'll be safe."By noon, the old industrial building sat like a waiting beast, rusting and silent. One by one, they arrived. First Adrian and Kayla, then Ethan and Clarissa. Victor arrived last, flanked by two guards, a smug smirk painted on his face.“You?, A
Fiona paced the dimly lit hotel room, her heartbeat thudding like a war drum in her chest. She had been on the run long enough, laying low, changing hotels, wearing wigs to flaw her appearance,But the anxiety never stopped. The fear only grew deeper. Adrian could find her. Victor could kill her. It was just a matter of who got to her first and either way, she's dead.She picked up the burner phone, the third one she’d used this week, and dialed a number she was told never to call unless she was desperate. She was. The call rang once.A voice answered. No pleasantries, no name. Just silence.“I need to meet with you,” Fiona said. “Tonight. In person. It’s urgent.”“Address,” the voice replied, cold and straight She gave them the hotel name and room number, then hung up. No time for pleasantries. She knew how this worked. She was dealing with an organization that specialized in making people disappear. An elite house of assassins. And she needed their best.Exactly twenty five minutes
Victor’s men stood tall in the dark alley, their faces hidden behind hideous masks, their posture as stupid as they are. Ethan walked calmly toward them, a black leather briefcase in one hand and a composed expression masking the war that's going on inside of him.“This better be everything,” the tallest of Victor’s men growled, stretching out his hand.Ethan dropped the briefcase onto the car bonnet. “It’s all there. Every file, every password, every damn thing you asked for.”The man snapped it open, flipping through neatly arranged files, USB drives, and hard copies of encrypted accounts. Ethan had worked all night with Adrian’s tech team to make them look real. The level of detail was so precise, even an expert would be fooled—at least, for a while.“Now that you are satisfied, will you take me to her?,” Ethan demanded, voice cold and sharp like steel.“Master Victor will decide that,” the man replied and motioned for him to wait.A sleek black car pulled up beside them. Victor s
What!!?? Rissa is missing??!!”Kayla’s voice rang out like a siren screaming to free herself from a wicked fisherman's net ,slicing through the calm. Her hands trembled, Ethans phone clutched tightly as the message flashed on the screen. Ethan’s face was drained of color. Adrian turned immediately, eyes narrowing.“Wait—what did you just say?” he asked, stepping closer.Kayla’s lips quivered. “Cant you hear him, he said that my best friend is fucking missing." Adrian’s jaw tensed. “What the hell are you talking about? We were all together just hours ago.”Ethan stood frozen, his phone buzzing again in his pocket. Slowly, he pulled it out. One glance, and his stomach dropped.It read:"Come alone. We have your girl. You have 48 hours. Don’t tell Adrian. Or she dies.A chill swept down his spine. His throat dried as Adrian noticed the way Ethan’s fingers twitched around his phone.“What’s going on?” Adrian asked, stepping forward. “You just got a message too. Show me.”Ethan slipped th
The sun rose beautifully over the lockwood estate, making the environment look surreal.Kayla stretched beautifully under the silk sheets, her body still aching from the night before. Her skin tingled with the memory of Adrian’s touch, his kiss, the feeling of him inside her, the way he pleasured her in a way she couldn't imagine.“Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart,” Adrian’s deep voice broke through her thoughts. He leaned against the doorframe, his blue eyes soft, a beautiful smile plastered on his faceKayla sat up, smiling. “Is it Val's day already?"He walked to her, kissed her forehead, then murmured, “ Yes, it is. Now I need you to get dressed, I'm taking you somewhere special."She giggled. “Special? Where?”Adrian smirked. “How is it a surprise if I tell you"An hour later, Kayla stepped out of the mansion, looking so beautiful and speechless because she saw....Ethan stood by the car, grinning from ear to ear, while Clarissa waved excitedly, already seated inside. Adrian held
He leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss that was slow, intentional, raw and passionate. It deepened quickly, their mouths molding together in a hunger that had been restrained for long His hands cupped her face as if she were something fragile, yet his body pressed against hers with a desperate need and a burning desire.He backed her gently toward the bed, never breaking the kiss. When the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed,"Are you ready for this baby?""I've never wanted something so bad In my life. I WANT YOU ADRIAN""Really, I'm not promising you that I'd be gentle. I've been starved for a long time.""I want you Ady, take me"And that was all he needed to hearAdrian lifted her onto the bed, laying her down as if she were the most precious thing he’d ever touched. He climbed over her slowly, letting his weight settle on her just enough for her to feel the strength of his desire. Their kisses grew messier, deeper, more demanding. Hands roamed, exploring skin that bur
The weather today was so good and warm. The ray of morning sun peeked Into the room through the glass, casting golden shadows. Adrian laid on the bed, one arm tucked behind his head, while the other wrapped around Kayla's waist, keeping her as close as possible. She laid on his chest, her fingers tracing from his face to his chest, their legs tangled. No words were spoken, none was needed. Not today, not even in this sweet moment."You know, I wish we could stay like this forever." Kayla spoke softly against his chest.Adrian smiled, giving her a kiss on her forehead. " Then let's never move. Let's just stay like this forever and ever "I just wish we could just live a peaceful life, like going for walks in the park or something without watching our backs."she said sadly."Hey baby, don't even be like that. Sooner than later, we'd be able to do everything that you love. All I know is , at the very end, we'd be fine. A flush crept up her cheeks and she tried to look away but he hel
Ethan sat at the edge of the bed, rubbing his palm against his jeans as he stared with admiration at Clarissa who was fussing with her earrings in the mirror. She looked effortlessly beautiful even in silence, and the softness of her reflection is just a marvelous sight to behold. It made him feel so proud of himself.“Don't you ever stop to reason how we ended up here , together?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with love and sincerity.Clarissa turned, surprised by his tone. “Here? Like… here together?”He nodded slowly. “Yeah. With all the that gave way to our meeting , you’re still the one thing that feels right. You’re my very own calm in the storm,Rissa."Her lips curled into a small smile, and she walked over to him, sitting on his legs as her fingers ran through his hair. “You’re not that bad yourself. Even with that stubborn temper and your overprotective and hidden instincts."He let out a low laugh. “What can I say? I’d rather be hated for being overprotective than mourn the