Elizabeth’s POV“Aaah!” I screamed in horror as I heard the voice.I began scrambling backward, with my heart pounding in my chest.“No, stop,” the voice said, though softer now. “I didn't mean to scare you.”I stopped and turned to where I heard the voice. A pretty lady stood in front of the tree. She wore the maid uniform and smiled gently despite her worried look. She looked about twenty one or a bit older and Asian.She walked forward stretching her hand towards me. “I am so sorry,” she continued.“Jesus Christ!” I muttered, placing a hand on my chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”Her honey kissed skin glowed with the sunlight and she came closer. Her round face and large doe eyes with heart shaped lips made her look innocent.She had a fringe and long dark hair reaching her breast.I took her hand, and slowly got up from the floor. My breathing calmed down as I watched her.“I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry. Master Adam is going to kill me if he…” she said looking at me and
Chapter 49:Adam's POVI kept flipping through the pages of paper on my desk. The documents had suddenly become annoying to read.I was running out of patience and took it out on the papers. The numbers became blurry and seemed to mix. I pinched my nose and closed the document."Has she come out yet?" I asked without looking up.Maximus looked at me with a grin and blinked annoyingly. "Nope."I exhaled slowly, tapping my fingers against the desk. "How long does she plan to sulk?"Maximus chuckled. "Probably forever. She's a woman. They’re stubborn as hell. I should know because I have one. But if you’re that worried, maybe you should check up on her."I shot him a glare. "I’m not worried."Maximus smirked. "Right."I shook my head, but his words nagged at me. Elizabeth had locked herself in that room for two damn days. Not a single sight of her."You should know by now," Maximus continued, "women always want things to go their way, even when it shouldn’t."I stayed silent, thinking.M
Richard's POVI stepped into the room, looking at Elizabeth's peaceful, sleeping figure on the bed.Her hands and feet were tied to the edges of the bed with a long rope.I traced the high slit of the gown she had been changed into and my mouth watered, staring at her pale skin.She looked every bit like an angel, yet so seductive."I never thought I would want you as much as I do," I whispered, and sat on the edge of the bed.Watching her sleep was like a price. I let my eyes trace the lines of her face. Her rosy cheeks made my heart dance. I didn't think. I didn't need to and gently lowered my face kissing the side of her forehead."What do I have to do to make you mine?"I let my fingers trace a smooth line along her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin.She groaned softly, and moved slightly. I didn't stop, I couldn't stop. My hand kept going downward, and she flinched as I touched her neck.I smiled, tracing my fingers to her bosoms. They were the palest skin tone and grew bigge
Adam’s POVThe stench of whiskey, sweat, and bad choices clung to the air like a second skin. Smoke twisted through the buzzing gambling den, thick as the tension simmering beneath the surface. Laughter rang out, sharp and reckless, punctuated by the occasional crash of a glass, the groan of a man who’d just lost more than he could afford.And then I walked in.The noise dipped. Just for a second. Just enough for me to catch the shift. The way backs stiffened, the way men at the tables glanced up, clocking my presence before quickly looking away. Some with fear. Others with thinly veiled resentment.I didn’t care either way.I adjusted my cufflinks, the crisp linen of my tailored suit a stark contrast to the filth of this place. I wasn’t here to blend in. I was here to hunt.And my prey sat right in front of me.Takeshi Sato.He was a Yakuza associate. Greedy, sloppy and weak.The bastard was drowning in liquor, his arm draped around a half-dressed woman who laughed at something he sa
Adam’s POVI was there before he hit the ground, catching his weight as his knees buckled.His fingers clawed at my jacket, breathing ragged. “Adam…”“Stay with me,” I pleaded.His blood pooled beneath him, and men returned. The sniper shooter was dead. They had handled it.Kevin’s grip tightened on my shirt. His eyes darkened. Unfocused.“Listen. I...” He coughed, blood spilling past his lips. “Christine…I...”“Don’t talk. We’ll get you out,” I said.He shook his head violently. His nails dug into my arm. “You don’t…understand.”“Please, listen to me,” he said, panting.“It was my fault. Everything. I'm sorry Adam,” he said, in a teary voice.I shook my head. “No, it's not.”“It is,” he replied. “I had been working with Lance for a while. Ever since I suspected Elizabeth wasn't here just for the money. I connected with lance through some old connections.”I listened, watching the blood pour from his mouth as he struggled to get the words out. “Christine and I were lovers. I help her
Adam’s POV“We have to go back to the monastery,” Maximus yelled.I nodded and we began retreating, covering each other's movement with gunshots at the enemy.Keeping my head low, as my back hit the cold pillars of the monastery, I checked to locate the enemy's position.My men moved in calculated bursts, dodging between broken columns, returning fire with trained precision. But it wasn’t enough. We were pinned down, boxed in like rats.I saw it in their faces, the realization. We were outnumbered. The Yakuza had us trapped, pressing in from all sides.They had the upper hand. I couldn't risk my men dying. I had to think of something.Nico slid beside me, tossing a loaded gun into my hand. "Here, catch!" he shouted over the chaos.I grabbed it on instinct, barely turning my head before a bullet pierced his leg."Aaah!" He screamed falling to the floor. I quickly got down and pulled him away from the firing bullets."Are you going to be okay?" I asked, worried.He nodded, and quickly t
Elizabeth’s POVI hissed, pulling at the ropes holding my wrists. Richard and Lily were at the door arguing about whatever they cared about.bI pulled the rope again, hurting my wrist and I gave up with a groan.“Don't bother sweetheart, it won't work,” Richard said, looking at me.He was right. I had been pulling the rope for hours and my wrists was already bruised.“Let’s go,” Richard finally said, adjusting his suit jacket. “She’s not going anywhere.”Lily smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Good. I’d hate to chase after her again.”She walked out, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, and Richard followed, before the door shut.Screw it. If only someone could...my eyes trailed and focused on Christine.She was on the floor picking each piece of glass and acting like I wasn't in the room.“Ow,” she groaned, holding up the finger that had been cut by the glass.Her eyes met mine and there was complete silence.She returned to picking the glass and I exhaled slowly
Adam’s POV“Adam!” Elizabeth’s voice cut through with fear.I barely had time to react before Richard’s gun fired.The shot rang out, but I felt nothing. There was no pain or impact.Because Richard had missed. He looked at me surprised and my eyes trailed down to Christine beneath his leg.He followed my gaze spotting her. She had pushed him at the last second.She rose, breathing hard.Elizabeth wasted no time. The second Richard stumbled, she twisted out of his hold, breaking free.I moved quickly, throwing my fist in his face. He groaned and stumbled back and I hit him again.The gun fell off his hand and blood dripped from his nostrils.“You fucking...” Richard curses, but my fist hit him hard again. He fell to the floor, holding his bleeding nose.I attacked, but he recovered dodging my punch and kicking me.I growled, and lunged at him, hitting his ribs.The blood slurped from his mouth and he growled. “I have had enough of you.”His feet met my ribs, knocking me out of his sid
Adam’s POVI sat in the study room, tired from checking the business file and reached for the television's remote.I pressed a button and the television came on. I was watching the news and I returned to reading the documents.The second I heard the name Clayridge on the news ticker, I stopped breathing.I stood frozen, my eyes locked on the television screen like it held the keys to the next war.A riot. At Clayridge.I didn’t need to wait for confirmation.My gut knew before my brain did.Richard was gone."Confirmed reports that Mafia suspect Richard Mitch, elder brother to the notorious underworld figure Adam Mitch, escaped the facility early this morning along with six other inmates..."Notorious? Oh damn it.I never went above my own lane and I was making the news because of Richard.The voice of the news anchor turned to static in my ears. I saw the headline. I saw the flames. The chaos. The confusion on the guards’ faces. It all looked staged. Because it was.I’d know Richard’
Elizabeth’s POVThe first time I pressed the panic button in the elevator, I wasn’t panicking. I was just curious how long it would take for them to get to me.I counted slowly and when it got to none seconds, I got my answer.Eight men came charging into the hallway, guns drawn. One of them even barked my name like I was under attack.But I wasn’t.I just needed proof. Proof that this place had stopped being a house a long time ago.Now, it was a cage. Pretty curtains didn’t hide the bars. I wasn't locked up. I was free but I was sick and tired of staying put in this house.I didn’t bother apologizing. I just walked past the guards and headed toward the basement. Their footsteps followed, but I didn’t look back. I kept walking, down the staircase, past the secured corridor with fingerprint locks, straight to the cell where Corinth was held.She sat on the floor like a dead person with her head leaned back against the wall.Somehow I felt pity for her, but I was still mad she had trie
Lily's POVI didn’t talk to Lance during the whole flight. I didn’t have to. He didn’t expect me to.We sat in silence, an ocean between us despite sitting only one seat apart. In one hand he swirled a whiskey glass slowly. I had nothing. Not even sleep. I hated that I was in this position.When we landed in the States, I braced for the worst. I thought I would be taken directly to some basement then given a gun, a file and told to clean up someone else’s mess. Or even killed. But instead, Lance handed me a manila folder.Inside were fake credentials. It had given me a new name so I could not be easily tracked. New background. I was officially now Samantha Carson, federal corrections officer, Clayridge Maximum Security Prison.My stomach twisted."What is this?" I asked.Lance didn’t smile. "Your clean slate. Your one final task."I really didn't want to and I complained. "This isn’t what I do."Lance picked up and did not care. "You do now."I stared at the folder again. One of the d
Lily's POVJosh propped back on the couch, half-squinting, with sweat beaded on his brow.He took his phone from his pocket and texted someone before returning his gaze to me.“I asked you a question,” he said. His voice went deeper.“No, I didn't,” I said. He looked relieved.“So, he's blackmailing you. Why?” He asked.“Because I shot my friend. Yes, I shot Elizabeth and ran,” I confessed.“Lily,” Josh called in disbelief. “So, it was you?”“I don't know if she's dead. I checked the news. There's no record of her death. It was selfish of me, but I didn't kill her. I know that,” I said.It didn't make sense to me, but I didn't want to cry in front of him.He stared at me. None of us broke eye contact. Then the knock came.Josh sat up and pointed to the door. "That's him. Let him in."I opened it quickly to find a lanky man with a box of supplies tucked under one arm. His scruffy beard and bleary eyes belied the crispness of the white gloves he donned as he entered.“I can’t believe yo
Lily's POVThe gun didn’t move. It remained pointed toward Josh’s head.My heart raced as I leapt between them, my arms outstretched. My voice cracked, but I pushed the words out. "What do you want?"The man laughed and cocked his head, as if I’d just asked the dumbest question in the world. His lips curled slowly in a cruel smile. "It’s easy. You should have guessed it."I gulped.“You did better than I hoped bringing him here,” the man said.“You sent that message?” I asked, and he smiled.Josh sat up, and the man ticked his fingers warning him not to move.“Lily, what in the hell is happening?” Josh asked.“You'll know soon enough,” the man answered.The soft click from the black SUV behind the man caught our attention.My heart began to race. Its headlights blinked. The doors released with a muffled thump. I froze, a chill wrapping around my back.The driver's door opened.No. Please, God, no. Don't let it be him.But it was him. The first thing that hit my eye was his polished sh
Lily's POVMy scream was loud and sharp as the closet door flew open. I didn’t think. I just reacted. I shot my fist out and into a man’s face with a sickening thud. The figure reeled back, groaning."Ow! Lily, what the hell!"Josh’s voice pierced through my mind and I opened my eyes. My heart sank the second I saw who I hit."Josh?" I asked.He held his nose with his left hand, and rubbed the spot. "Yeah, it’s me. You throw one hell of a punch. What was that?"I stumbled out of the closet, still shaking. "Jesus. Don't scare me like that. I thought you were him. I heard him. He called my name. I swear he was here.”Josh glanced around the room, his face turning a bit red. He moved fast, checking the windows, every corner, under the bed, behind the door.“There's no one here now,” he said.He glanced at me then, the concern carved deep into his face. “That’s it. I’m done playing defense.”He pulled out his phone and called someone. In less than an hour, a locksmith came and changed eve
Lily's POVJosh’s eyes were wide open; He gazed at me. It was too late, yet I turned aside."What was that?" he inquired in a low but cordial tone.I quickly got up and stuffed the phone in my pocket. "Nothing. Just an old picture."He didn’t blink. “You looked nice. Almost like a whole different person.’With trembling palms, I backed toward the sink and pretended to be occupied with a cup of water. "You need to rest. You’re not supposed to think much.”Josh sat up slowly. He moved to the side and the machines beeped next to him. "Don’t do that. Don’t deflect.""I’m not," I muttered."You are. Talk to me."I spun around and gripped the edge of the counter. My voice shook. "I can’t. Not now."He sighed and reclined back into the pillow. "Then don’t bother."I glanced at him, and swallowed. "Josh..."Gently, he looked into my eyes. “If you're not prepared to discuss it, that's fine. I’ll wait. I just want to know you’re safe. For me."I felt my knees buckle a little and moved closer to
Lily's POV"Move! Get out of the way!" I yelled.I didn’t know my own voice as I yelled at the standstill traffic, weaving in and out of cars, blowing every light.I had my fingers locked on the steering wheel. Josh lay next to me, hunched over with blood from his scalp running onto his shirt. His breathing was shallow.“ Josh, you need to stay with me. Just keep breathing. Please,” I begged as I drove.He groaned softly. That sound gave me just enough hope to bury the throttle deeper. The hospital sign eventually appeared, glowing like a beacon through my haze of panic.I parked like a lunatic, half on the sidewalk, and jumped out of the car. "Help! Somebody, please, help me!"Two nurses and a doctor ran outside. They saw the blood and got a stretcher."Head trauma. I don’t know what else,” I said, my voice trembling. "He was attacked. Outside our apartment."They loaded him in. My heart was pounding in my ears, I staggered behind, trying to catch up.The emergency room was a disaste
Lily’s POVThe scream came out of me before I even knew what I was seeing.There he was at the window.That same hooded man, lingering outside in the shadows, staring at me. Just standing there. I could feel his eyes piercing through the glass and through me, even though his face was dark.Josh leaped off the sofa as if a defibrillator had struck him by accident. "Lily! What—"I pointed, my voice breaking. "The window! He's there! Look!"Josh sprinted toward me, looking at where I pointed. But when he turned, the man had disappeared from the window.“He was just standing there,” I gasped as I retreated. My legs trembled and my skin tingled all over.Josh looked around the street below. Then he noticed something. His brow furrowed as he leaned in closer. His fingers moved deliberately toward the windowpane. "Lily... there's a crack."I rushed to his side.And there it was.A narrow, ragged line had ripped its way across the glass. Right in the center.Then I saw the note.Stuck to the