Lawrence"He's still family, Lawrence!" Stella protested, emerald eyes flashing. "Prison changes people - James deserves second chances like anyone."I regarded her evenly across the desk where damning photos and contacts lay exposed. Her naive faith grated when ruthless threats encircled us sleeping."My foolish brother twisted opportunities toward selfish vices long before cage trapped him." I tapped the surveillance images grimly. "Now corrupt influences poison chances for redemption."I added." I warning you James is dangerous at times."Stella set her delicate jaw stub
Stella"More bodyguards attending my morning jog now?" I frowned at the suited figures flanking the lobby doors. Their assessing gazes tracked me like wolves sighting prey. Lawrence's thumb traced my knuckles placatingly as we crossed the marble floors. "Merely a precaution, little moon. Threats appear from shadows lately."I wrinkled my nose, anxiety spiking. "Threats from whom? Your brother's not as you think and that fraud Bijou neutralized." I searched Lawrence's face for fuller explanation but his expression remained inscrutably reserved. "There are always parasitic opportunists envying your gifts and alliances with me now." His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "I eliminate risks decisively."I bristled uneasily. Exactly how far did Lawrence's protective claim extend behind the scenes? Relentless security lately verged upon imposing confinement no matter his reassurances. Outside, two more guards fell in step trailing my usual route to the leafy park nearby. Their looming n
Stella I inhaled wavering breath and moved with him farther from innocence's garden gates. Now we walked hand and crimson hand toward unknown lawless roads my beloved long traveled directed by necessity and ruthlessness haunting his princely veneer\...An elevator descended much further than the penthouse normally reached after passing several secured checkpoints manned by more armed guards who nodded respectfully seeing Lawrence. My breath grew increasingly short not daring to meet his expressionless face during rapid plunging into subterranean levels clearly off public grids and oversight.The doors finally whispered open onto a dimly lit corridor of heavy doors spaced at intervals. I heard muffled sounds like metallic impacts and grunts echoing weirdly against concrete walls otherwise sealed tight. My heart raced erratically but we continued forward doggedly past shadowy blank doorways toward the larger reinforced set of double doors at the very end somehow pulsing with menace
LawrenceThe scent of blood turned my stomach, cutting through the damp underground air. .My inner beast recoiled at the sight of the guys’ crumpled body, recognizing what remained of the guy under swelling purple bruises and crimson gashes. "Did he opened up?" I asked the guard and he shake us head. Stella’s hitched gasp wrenched me back to the terrible present. Her wide eyes took in the vicious scene, hands trembling as she struggled to reconcile this brutality with the sanctuary she knew."Wh-hhhats happening here Babe?"I ached to soothe her fears but necessity chained me rigid, preventing even a sideways glance lest duty falter under compassion’s pull. “Enough for now,” I bit out gruffly to the guards. “See him secured.” My guards flanked the guy’ lolling form, hoisting his battered weight between them. They bore him down the concrete hallway lined with iron doors as I focused on steadying Stella where she swayed unmoored by shock. “Come, my heart. Let me explain,” I coax
Stella"Lawrence, wait--" My voice cracked reaching after his swift departing form. But duty's biting lash drove him relentlessly onward. I stood anchored by unfamiliar gazes assessing my worth now severe protection had vanished."This is important Babe, we'll talk later. I promise."Rough men, scarred visages marked by brutality endured and meted.Hands calloused wielding tools of violent justice ordinarily hidden from genteel eyes too soft witnessing messy necessities securing safe illusion.Now curiosity and skepticism weighed heavy as judgement against frail feminine interloper on their territory by alpha's inexplicable blind affection alone. Had sheltering walls cracked enough revealing darker currents flowing beneath cultured veneer?I wavered torn by lingering dread and deeper conscience whispering kinship with ragtag warriors not gentle forged.We trod the same veiled borderlands few travelled willfully, sacrificing innocence that some beauty persistuntainted for rare traver
Stella "It can't be..." My voice faded to a shocked whisper. I stumbled back a step, one hand flying to my mouth. There, on his knees with hands bound behind his back, was my stepfather. The one who had made my childhood a misery after my father died. The one who I thought I'd left behind for good when I went away to college. Without hesitation, he had abandoned us for his own selfish reasons, claiming to have found abetter life elsewhere, telling me that I was the reason why he wasn't living a smooth life. The man who made me cry to sleep throughout the time I thought of him as my father. Never for once did he not try to abuse me and my mother before she died. Lawrence grasped my shoulders, concern creasing his brow. "Stella? What is it, my love?" It was everything. I wanted to scream and do something crazy. Anything at all, just to take me away from here. I could feel Lawrence's hand on my shoulder, but I still found myself sinking in a void. It didn't feel right. It felt
Lawrence "You will suffer dearly for what you've done," I snarled. Stella's stepfather glared up at me through his one unswollen eye, defiance etched on his battered face even while restrained on his knees. My men stood impassively nearby, ready to mete out violence at my command. "I don't know what fantasies that girl has been telling you, but I never laid a hand on her," he spat, then let out a laugh. Red hazed my vision. I backhanded him brutally across the face, splitting open his swollen lip again. He grunted in pain, blood dripping down his chin. "Do not dare speak my Stella's name!" I thundered. "She has told me enough of your cruelty. The broken bones, the bruises...you are a plague upon innocents!" He barked out a chilling laugh. "Think you know everything, don't you tough guy? Stel
StellaSmack!"How dare you!?" She shouted. The stinging slap seemed to echo in the sudden shocked silence.I pressed one hand to my flaming cheek, staring at the mother who birthed and betrayed me in one awful moment."You ungrateful wretch!" she shrieked, face mottled nearly purple with rage. "Your depraved thugs ambush my husband and drag him off to God knows where, and you stand there so smug! Was our providing you food and shelter all those years not enough?"The room tilted crazily. Lawrence quickly moved to restrain her, but I halted him with one raised hand.Trembling, I turned back to the woman I had once desperately craved love from."So that's why you came? Checking on your meal ticket, not your daughter?" Bitterness roughened my voice. Blinders torn violently away, I sudden