Scarlet's sleek red Lamborghini purred as it emerged from the garage a little over a minute later, its powerful engine rumbling like a wild animal.
Following close behind was a black SUV carrying her team of burly bodyguards like silent, intimidating sentries protecting their charge.
Her car had just crossed over the bridge that linked the city's main arteries and was about to make a right turn at the traffic light when a flashy black sports car blew through the intersection, clearly running the red light.
Tires squealed as the two vehicles collided with a sickening crunch of metal on metal.
"Son of a bitch!" Scarlet snarled, her delicate features contorting into an enraged glare as she gripped the steering wheel in a tight grip.
Who the hell was this reckless douchebag with the audacity to drive like such an irresponsible jackass and damage her prized car she cherished more than life itself?
The other driver's blatant irresponsibility and disregard for traffic laws infuriated her to her core.
A burning wrath ignited low in her belly as she realized her beloved vehicle had undoubtedly suffered damage from the senseless incident.
Just as her rage started to boil over, the driver's side door of the offending car swung open and a young man stepped out, his expression indignant - as if he had done nothing wrong.
The arrogant sneer on his face only stoked Scarlet's fury higher.
She forced herself to remain seated, letting her bodyguards handle the situation while she watched through tinted windows.
Her disapproving glare intensified when a group of men in crisp black suits - seemingly the other party's security detail - emerged to flank and assist the young man.
Her own guards immediately moved to surround him in a silent threat.
The two groups quickly engaged in a tense standoff, posturing and sizing each other up for an inevitable physical altercation.
Scarlet rubbed her temples tiredly, feeling the first twinges of a tension headache coming on.
Couldn't these idiots act like civilized adults for once instead of behaving like primitive gorillas?
Flinging her door open, she stepped out gracefully and barked, "Stand down!"
Her men reluctantly retreated a few paces, still shielding her protectively as she moved forward to confront the insolent young man herself.
He met her furious glare with an unsettling look that she couldn't quite pinpoint. Was it curiosity? Disdain?
There was something unreadable simmering behind his eyes that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.
The man exuded a palpable aura of menace and power that should have been intimidating. Yet...there was an undeniable charm and magnetism about him too - the kind that caused a subtle, unwanted ache of desire to spark low in a woman's belly. The kind that made her clench her thighs together instinctively.
'Damn it, what Am I thinking?' Scarlet berated herself harshly and quickly shoved the inappropriate thought aside, focusing on keeping her expression neutral.
"Look, we're both adults here," she said in a tone of forced calm. "I don't think it's necessary to turn this into a street brawl. Send your goons back and I'll do the same with mine."
Dane glared at her menacingly, one eyebrow arching in a clear look of disdain. It was evident he found her statement completely unacceptable.
"Nobody gives me orders, lady," he sneered, his voice a dangerous rumble. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
Scarlet arched one perfectly sculpted eyebrow disapprovingly. One of her guards started to step forward, but she subtly waved him off before he could disclose her identity and escalate the confrontation further.
"It doesn't matter who I am," she replied with an edge of steel. "You're the one who caused this whole mess, not me. And I don't care about getting the damage repaired if that's what you're worried about. Could you please just move out of the way so my people and I can be on our way?"
Scarlet squinted slightly when Dane’s expression remained impassive, almost as if he hadn't heard a single word she said. In fact, his pupils were visibly dilating as his gaze raked over her body with unsettling intensity, hungrily drinking in every lush curve accentuated by the slinky red dress that clung to her like a second skin.
He was a lover of the color red.
His darkened eyes skimmed over the exquisite lines and luscious contours of her magnificent form with undisguised appreciation.
Dane's eyes closed briefly, swallowing hard as if struggling for control over himself. He couldn't quite believe that this girl - the very same girl who was meant to be a mere target for his hatred - could take his breath away in such an unexpected way.
He knew everything about her, from her daily appointments down to the most minute details of her life.
He wielded complete power over all her channels of communication. This was the same woman he had cultivated a deep, abiding loathing for his entire life, long before they ever met face-to-face. And now that their paths had finally crossed...
A faint, sinister smile curved Dane’s lips as he watched Scarlet's graceful figure turn and sashay back to her vehicle, feeling his long-planned revenge taking an intriguing new twist.
She slid back into the purring Lamborghini before it peeled away with a squeal of expensive tires, the black SUV close on its tail, leaving the young man standing alone and watching until her car disappeared from sight.
Dane closed his eyes again, head falling back as he vividly recalled the mouthwatering sight of her - that slinky red dress, red lips, black nails and stilettos...all wrapped around a body that was pure, undeniable temptation.
He turned abruptly on his heel and stalked back to his own car, his security detail scrambling to follow as he roared away in another squeal of tortured rubber.
He'd always had a particular affinity for the color red, and it was only amplified to dizzying heights when paired with black in such a deliciously wicked combination.
"Damn that bitch!" Dane snarled through gritted teeth, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached.
He slammed a fist against the steering wheel hard enough to make the chassis shudder violently.
With a screech of protesting tires, he wrenched the wheel and changed direction, making a beeline for one of his private warehouses at breakneck speed.
It was his usual coping mechanism whenever his anger reached the boiling point - to retreat to his lair and attempt to regain control while he wrestled his rising, primal urges back into submission.
Only this time, his fury was laced with another undercurrent entirely...one with a more base, carnal edge that both terrified and intrigued him in a way he didn't fully understand.
Today's bonus chapter. :)
Scarlet made her way to the riverside restaurant where Lincoln had been patiently awaiting her arrival. As soon as she spotted his tall, familiar figure standing outside with hands casually tucked into the pockets of his tailored slacks, she applied the brakes.The powerful Lamborghini purred to a stop right in front of him.Lincoln immediately closed the distance with long, purposeful strides, concern etching his handsome features.He reached to help Scarlet out of the low-slung car, his hands gentle but insistent as they grasped her shoulders, giving her body an anxious once-over to check for any signs of injury."Are you alright, sweetheart? Were you hurt at all in the accident? God, I knew I should have come pick you up myself instead of letting you drive," he fretted, the tense lines around his eyes and mouth showing just how worried he'd been.Scarlet flashed him a reassuring smile and shook her head.She reached up to press her palms against his stubbled cheeks in a soothing ges
Dane pulled into the private underground garage of his luxury high-rise apartment building not long after.He stormed inside the private elevator leading to his penthouse, slamming the door behind him hard enough to rattle the walls once he got in.Then he stalked through the dimly lit space, carelessly shrugging out of his shirt before flinging it carelessly to the floor.Grabbing a heavy crystal glass, he poured himself a generous serving of rich, full-bodied scotch and then prowled out onto the spacious balcony to drink it while surveying his kingdom from on high - an evening ritual he performed every night without fail.Dane’s jaw clenched when he drained the glass in one long series of gulps, the potent liquid burning pleasantly as it slid down his throat.His head tilted slightly to the side at the sound of a timid knock coming from the front door.Turning on his heel, he crossed the room in ground-eating strides and wrenched open the door.Then his free hand lashed out to clamp
Scarlet was busy examining an elderly patient, carefully going through the routine checks before recommending that he be discharged from the hospital.There was a courteous knock on the door as she was taking notes in his file."Come in," she called out without looking up from her writing.The door opened and one of the floor nurses bustled in, her shoes clicking briskly against the floor. "Dr. Wovers, there's a patient who just arrived in one of the emergency bays. He's been quite...difficult, and the supervisor has requested your presence urgently."Scarlet's brow furrowed slightly at that, but she gave a curt nod of acknowledgment. "Very well. Let me finish up here and I'll head over directly."She returned her attention to the man sitting upright in the hospital bed and smiled a kind, comforting smile. "Well, Mr. Jennings, it seems everything is in order. Your test results have come back clear, and I don't see any reason why you can't be discharged this afternoon, provided you take
Scarlet made to step back to retrieve the necessary medical supplies; however, Dane's large hand shot out with lightning quickness, catching her by the arm and halting her right by the side of the bed."It hurts real bad, Doc," he practically purred. "You're going to have to take real good care of me now."Scarlet couldn't quite stifle the heavy sigh that escaped her at his words and the way his grip tightened ever so slightly on her arm before loosening again.She pulled herself free, went to the supply tray, and took out some antiseptic solution and a sterile gauze pad.As she carefully cleaned and dressed the wound on his arm, Scarlet was mildly surprised by how still and calm Dane remained throughout the process.Most male patients would be whimpering or cursing up a storm at the sting of the antiseptic, but he didn't so much as flinch.He simply watched her face intently the entire time.Once she'd finished bandaging him up properly, Scarlet stepped back and crossed her arms over
Scarlet’s hand stretched toward the doorknob and her fingers barely grazed the cool metal when a large hand slammed against the door.Her heart jumped to her throat.She frantically twisted the handle and pulled with all her might but the door wouldn't move an inch.Scarlet slowly turned around in defeat, dreading what she’d see.Her 5'4" frame felt impossibly small as she faced Dane, who towered over her with his broad shoulders blocking any escape route.The fluorescent hospital lights cast shadows across his face, making his expression even more menacing."Going somewhere, doctor?" Dane’s voice was soft yet held an edge that made her skin crawl.He shifted his weight, placing his supposedly injured arm against the door and leaned down to her eye level.The arrogant smirk she'd grown to hate played on his lips, but there was something darker in it now."Mr. Creighton, I need you to step back. This is completely inappropriate for a doctor-patient relationship." Scarlet tried to keep h
Scarlet was a crumpled heap on the floor, racked with uncontrollable sobs that shook her entire frame. Her face was buried in her hands, but it did nothing to muffle the heart-wrenching sounds of her anguish.Dane hadn't approached her out of the blue - no, he had an agenda. And Scarlet was painfully aware of that. But who could she turn to for help? Lincoln would surely lose his mind if he found out.He would turn her world upside down in his rage. At the end, she'd be exposed, lose her job and her reputation irreparably tarnished.Then there was Michael to consider. His brand of "assistance" would no doubt involve firearms and outright bloodshed, consequences she couldn't begin to fathom.Scarlet shuddered at the thought, cradling her arms around her midsection. No, she couldn't risk either of them finding out, not when her attacker was clearly a dangerous and unhinged man who didn't scare easily.A fresh wave of sobs tore from her throat as the realization crashed over her.She was
Lincoln was in no better condition than Scarlet, his own body thrummed with an intoxicating blend of desire and concern as she practically devoured him with her desperate kisses.He grinned when she eventually pulled away, panting hard against his kiss-swollen lips."Not that I'm complaining, but...damn, baby," Lincoln rasped, resting his forehead against hers as they both struggled to catch their breath. "Where did that come from all of a sudden? I mean, not that I've ever known you to be shy, but..."Scarlet swallowed thickly. She averted her gaze, fighting to regain her composure.She knew she needed to come up with some plausible excuse for her erratic behavior, something that wouldn't raise too many red flags with Lincoln.The last thing she wanted was for him to start prying into the truth behind her current state."I...the attending doctor I was working under today, he...he reprimanded me pretty harshly in front of the entire staff," Scarlet mumbled at last, hating how weak and
~Meanwhile~Dane’s fleets of convoys finally pulled up to one of his nondescript warehouses.He sat back against the deep red leather seat, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw as he eyed the well-guarded building.He couldn't afford to delay this particular victory any longer - not if he wanted to keep his tenuous grip on his rapidly unraveling sanity.The itch beneath his skin had been driving him to distraction for days now, an insistent craving that could only be satisfied by indulging in his...darker tendencies.He pushed open the car door before his men could and stalked towards the warehouse's main entrance with purposeful strides.He didn't bother announcing his presence. Every one of his men stationed here knew better than to loiter in the open when he was due to arrive.Sure enough, the entire place was deserted and cloaked in shadows as he stepped across the threshold. Except Chris who was following behind him.The men in black stationed at the main office in this warehouse
Terror propelled Flora to her feet. Her body swayed like a reed in the wind as she attempted to flee. Unfortunately, her escape lasted mere seconds before Dane's fingers tangled in her hair, yanking her back with savage force.His features transformed into a mask of unbridled fury."Please, I'm begging you." Chris's voice cracked with desperation. "She's just a child, innocent of all this. Take my life instead. She doesn’t know anything of the person you want."Tears streamed down Chris's face as he collapsed to his knees.Dane's penetrating gaze shifted between the trembling girl and his former right-hand man with his expression unreadable.The girl's presence stirred something deep within Dane - a recognition of the pure innocence he'd once known in another.His dead love interest had taught him to recognize the difference between genuine innocence and calculated deception. Yet this knowledge did nothing to stay his hand as he tightened his grip on Flora’s hair, drawing a sharp cry
Chris’s stomach twisted at Dane’s words. He knew what his boss was capable of, and he knew that Scarlet or Hanna as he had tried to convince Dane was in grave danger.“Sir, please—”Dane silenced Chris with a glare. “I don’t need your permission, and I certainly don’t need your protection!” He snarled.With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, his men trailing behind him.Chris watched him go and his heart pounded in his chest.Dane refused any company in his car, having his security detail follow at a respectful distance in another vehicle.His grip on the leather-wrapped steering wheel tightened until his knuckles blanched white.The interior of the car felt suffocating, charged with the electricity of his rage. Every breath he drew felt like inhaling fire… his chest constricting with an emotion he refused to name."How dare she?" The words escaped through clenched teeth, venom dripping from each syllable. "How dare she crawl under my skin like this?"Memories of
Flora’s hands were trembling so badly she could barely turn on the faucet when she returned to the restroom.She splashed cold water on her face, her reflection in the mirror pale and wide-eyed.Her heart was still racing, and she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing.The man who had dragged her into that room was terrifying. Yet, there was something strange about him—something almost… noble.He had let her go, after all. Why? She couldn’t understand it.“Flora! Where have you been?” Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her brother’s voice filled with worry.She turned to see him standing just outside the restroom with their mother close behind. Both of them looked anxious, their faces tight with concern.“I was about to come in there after you!” Jean continued in a tone sharp yet laced with relief.“I’m sorry,” Flora said quickly, forcing a weak smile. “My stomach was upset, and I felt dizzy. That’s why I took so long.”Jean frowned, scanning her pale
Dane stood before the mirror the next morning, meticulously adjusting his tie. His reflection stared back at him, cold and unyielding, the sharp lines of his face a perfect match for the sharpness of his emotions.He had chosen his finest suit and the scent of his signature cologne clung to his skin like a second layer.Behind him, the woman in his bed stirred but didn’t wake. He glanced at her briefly with his expression unreadable.He had no intention of waking her… she would follow soon enough, and if she didn’t, there would be consequences. She knew that. He had made it clear.By the time he stepped outside, Chris and the security team were already waiting.The usual salutes from his men were conspicuously absent. Dane noticed but didn’t comment. His demeanor had grown colder, harsher, and he suspected the shift hadn’t gone unnoticed. Everyone was scared to even utter a word around him.The convoy moved swiftly through the city until they reached the company.Chris busied himself
~Meanwhile~Dane leaned back elegantly in his chair.The air in the warehouse office was thick with tension.Across from him, Chris stood with the kind of poised stillness that made him almost blend into the background. His hands were clasped neatly in front of him, his posture respectful but rigid, like he was bracing for whatever Dane might say next.“Why do I care, Chris?” Dane’s voice broke the silence, low and strained. The faint tremor in his voice betrayed the turmoil he worked so hard to conceal.Chris’s lips parted slightly before closing again. “I do not know, sir.” He replied finally.Dane let out a sharp and frustrated sigh. He lowered his head into his hand, his thumb and index finger pressing into the sides of his forehead.The weight of Chris’s response settled uncomfortably in his chest.Was Chris being deliberately evasive? Or was he genuinely clueless? Dane couldn’t decide, and the uncertainty only deepened the gnawing tension inside him.The room felt stifling, suffo
Both mother and daughter clung to each other, their sobs filling the room.Scarlet felt like her chest might burst from the intensity of it all. For the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself sink into her mother’s embrace, into the warmth she thought she’d lost forever.Her face pressed into her mother’s shoulder, and she breathed in that familiar scent—soft and floral, the smell of home, of safety, of unconditional love. It was the same perfume her mom had always worn, and the familiarity of it made her cry harder.Mrs. Wovers eventually pulled back just far enough to take in Scarlet’s face.Her hands cupped Scarlet’s cheeks, trembling as though she couldn’t believe this was real. Then, she began pressing frantic kisses all over her daughter’s face—her forehead, her cheeks, her closed eyes, the tip of her nose. She even gave a quick peck on Scarlet’s lips, just like she usually did when Scarlet was a little girl.“My baby,” she whispered between kisses. “My sweet, bea
Scarlet’s stomach churned the moment Michael mentioned their father had moved back into the mansion.It wasn’t fear. No, she’d burned through her fear of that man long ago. What churned inside her now was pure, undiluted hatred.Not a single part of her cared about his wellbeing. Not his health, not his life—nothing. The mere thought of him being in the same space as her made her jaw tighten.Her hands curled into fists on her lap. “I swear to God, if he tries to touch me…” Her voice was low, venomous, muttered like a warning to herself.She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t need to. The thought alone was enough to make her blood boil. She’d rather disappear into thin air than let him so much as glance at her again. After all, he was the one who had destroyed her life.The car slowed as it passed through the mansion’s towering gates. Scarlet glanced out the window, her eyes scanning the familiar grounds. The sprawling gardens, the stone pathways, the grand house… it all looked th
Michael leaned forward to kiss her forehead before pulling her into another hug. "Lincoln is struggling without you. He's been seeing a psychiatrist due to his parents persistent and concern for health."The hair on Scarlet's head stood on end as she looked at his face for confirmation.He nodded solemnly. "You don't know how much he's suffered since you left. His condition is deteriorating. The doctors have warned his parents he might even... hurt himself."Lincoln!Scarlet gasped.The fear of facing him had driven her to her extreme actions, and now it was what kept her tied to her lie.But learning of his despair, she realized the extent of her selfishness. Even though she loved him truly, she feared him too.There would be no one else besides Lincoln in her life. The will to return for him, her mother, and her brother was what kept her going all these months.As for the devil responsible for shattering her dreams, she would do whatever it took to get rid of him from her life.Tears
Scarlet felt the weight of immense shame pressing down on her.She averted her gaze from her brother's intense stare, unable to meet the internal fire that burned relentlessly in his eyes.Tears flowed freely down her cheeks in a torrent unlike anything she'd ever experienced before.She drew in a shuddering breath, steeling herself to finally confide in him about the depths of agony she'd endured during her time living alone in a constant state of distress and fear."The fact that I became his...his whore, it shattered me, Michael," she confessed in a broken whisper. "I never should have been tainted by that indelible stain, that filth. You can't possibly understand the weight of shame and disgust that oppressed me, that shook me to my very core."Her voice took on a haunted edge as she pressed onward. "I lived in constant terror that Lincoln would somehow find out, would start to question my purity. And that's a doubt any man in his position would be justified in having, isn't it?"