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Chapter 18

Author: Adam Carlos
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-04 16:55:17

Cassidy was as striking as ever: tall, white, handsome, brown hair cascading down his neck. Light green eyes that were always filled with mischief seemed to sparkle, and the tattoos running across his arms and up his neck did nothing to dispel the aura of danger that he always seemed to project.

Matthew's hand tightened on his drink; the knuckles white. The presence of Cassidy still lingered in the air, thick and oppressive. He felt branded somehow, as he always did around Cassidy.

Matthew's breath caught as the memory surfaced unbidden, the image of him sitting on Cassidy's lap flickering in his mind. They were perched on the edge of a rooftop one evening, the city sprawling beneath them in a sea of lights. Cassidy had his arms around him, pulling him close as they shared a cigar. The air was thick with smoke, the flickering light from the streetlamps below casting shadows over Cassidy's face.

“You're mine, you know that, right?" Cassidy's voice had been low, a command wrapped in som
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  • Gold & Sand   Chapter 20

    It was a bright and cheerful day, an entirely unwelcome to Matthew, who groaned and pulled the blanket over his head. His skull throbbed with the aftermath of a night he'd sooner forget… too many drinks.He rolled onto his stomach, burying his face into the pillow and trying to shut out the world."Morning, sunshine," came Masahiro's unmistakable voice, low and sarcastic. Matthew cracked one eye open and turned his head just enough to see Masahiro sitting at the table. He had a steaming mug of coffee in one hand, and a paperback novel in the other. "Ugh, kill me," Matthew muttered, his voice muffled by the pillow.Masahiro didn't even look up from his book. "I would but cleaning up the mess would ruin my morning."Matthew groaned louder, forcing himself into a semi-upright position."You could at least pretend to care about my suffering.”"I do care. I care that you inflicted this on yourself." Masahiro finally looked at him, his face the perfect balance of amusement and exasperatio

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  • Gold & Sand   Chapter 21

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  • Gold & Sand   Chapter 26

    The police briefing room was dimly lit, thick with tension as Masahiro, Matthew, Ms. Hawthorne, Evelyn Carter-head of Human Trafficking Unit, and officer Reed, all sat around a big table. Laid in the middle was the picture of Ridley's back. Under the fluorescent lights, the tattoo shone-an inked jumble of lines, symbols, and jagged shapes that seemed impossible to decipher.Masahiro leaned forward, his finger tracing the contours of the image. "We have to figure this out; if Ridley's back is a message, it's the key to finding the Spiced Cherry or the people behind it.”Evelyn peered closely at the photograph; her brows furrowed in concentration. "Would this really lead us to the Spiced Cherry? This doesn't even look like a map," she questioned, doubt beginning to seep into her tone.Ms. Hawthorne, arms crossed, leaned closer. "Boss, I think you might be right. It's too messy. Why would his friend etch something so crucial on his back? It doesn't make sense.”Matthew had been leaning si

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  • Gold & Sand   Chapter 237

    Clark’s phone buzzed on the coffee table, vibrating against the glass. He glanced at the screen, Masahiro flashing in bold letters.He sighed, snatching it up. “Masahiro.”“Clark.” Masahiro’s voice was clipped, but not tense. “Good. You’re alive.”“Is that disappointment I hear?” Clark’s tone was effortlessly dry. “Or were you hoping I’d leave you with one less headache?”“We went to your place. It was empty.”“Yes, I’m aware. That’s generally the goal when one isn’t home.”“We heard about the gunfire.” Masahiro ignored the jab. “You alright?”Clark adjusted his glasses with precise, deliberate finesse. “Charmed, as always.”“And where are you?”Clark hesitated. He could practically hear the judgment loading.“Adam’s.”A pause. Just long enough to register the surprise without voicing it.“Of course you are.” Masahiro’s voice was too level. “And this decision was made with the full clarity of your legal genius?”“Obviously. Nothing

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  • Gold & Sand   Chapter 234

    The courtroom resumed with the same weight it had carried before the recess—but now the air felt thicker. Tighter. Every word from the judge landed heavier than before.“All rise,” the bailiff intoned.Clark didn’t bother looking at the prosecutor. He didn’t need to.He had work to do.Witness One: ArthurArthur sat rigid in the stand, hands folded tightly iin his lap. He wore a pale blue shirt that made him look even younger than usual, and his eyes kept flicking toward Cassidy—never quite meeting his gaze.Clark approached slowly, with no notes in hand. He didn’t need them.“State your name for the record.”“Arthur Cooper.”“Arthur, can you tell the court how you came to know the defendant?”Arthur hesitated. “He… he saved me.”Soft murmurs rippled through the gallery.Clark’s tone didn’t change. “Saved you from what?”“I was taken,” Arthur said, voice cracking only once. “Held in a warehouse with other victims. I don’t know how long. We were moved often. Kept in darkness.”“Did Ca

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    The courtroom was a theater, and Clark knew it.Not the overblown, high-drama kind. Not screaming matches or grandstanding.This was colder.Sharper.This was where reputation meant leverage. Where presence was its own kind of weapon. And today, Clark stood center stage with every light on him.He adjusted his cuffs with slow precision, stepped into place before the jury, and met each face without flinching.“Good morning,” he began. Calm. Even. Clean.“This trial will present you with blood, with violence, and with the kind of fear most people are lucky to never know.”The jurors stilled.“You will hear about what Cassidy did. About what Cassidy stopped. And about the lines he crossed to do it.”He let the silence land.“I will not stand here and pretend he’s a saint. That’s not what this is.”Eyes narrowed. Attention sharpened.“But you’ll learn—very quickly—that th

  • Gold & Sand   Chapter 232

    Clark didn’t say a word when they stepped into the hotel room.Bag hit the floor with a heavy thud. He moved straight to the minibar like he had one purpose: drown something before it spoke.Adam closed the door behind them with his boot, leaned against it, arms crossed.“Look at you,” Adam muttered. “Straight to the bottle like it’s fuckin’ therapy.”Clark ignored him. Yanked open the minibar, pulled out a half-decent bottle of Glenfiddich, and poured it like his hands weren’t already shaking.Adam pushed off the door, slow. “No ‘thanks for gettin’ me outta that rat trap’? Not even a ‘hey, nice save, criminal scum’?”Clark took a sip, didn’t flinch at the burn. “If I wanted mouth, I’d have stayed in the blackout.”Adam snorted, tossing his jacket over the couch. “You were in the blackout. Power dead. Brain fried. Pride? Fucked.”Clark glanced over the rim of his glass. “You enjoying this?”Adam dropped

  • Gold & Sand   Chapter 231

    Clark stirred, his consciousness dragging itself from the depths of a splitting headache. The weight of exhaustion clung to his body, limbs heavy against the cool sheets. His mouth was dry, tasting faintly of whiskey and regret.`What the hell happened last night?’He cracked his eyes open, blinking against the soft light filtering through the sheer curtains. The unfamiliar ceiling above him sent a jolt of confusion through his groggy mind. His brain lagged behind as he tried to piece things together.Hotel. Right.He had asked to come here.His body ached in that overindulged way, a reminder of too much alcohol and not enough food. Clark let out a slow exhale, dragging a hand over his face. His skin was warm, his head pounding, his stomach flipping in protest at the mere thought of movement.And then he saw Adam.The large figure was stretched out on the other bed, still asleep. His breathing was deep and steady, arms crossed over his chest as if even un

  • Gold & Sand   Chapter 230

    The drive back was quiet.Clark had stopped fussing, his usual sharp tongue dulled by exhaustion. He slumped in the passenger seat, head against the window, fingers idly tapping his knee in a steady rhythm—one-two-three, one-two-three. Adam had seen him do it before. A lawyer’s habit. A man counting the seconds, keeping himself anchored.Adam didn’t speak. Just drove.When they reached Clark’s building, Adam pulled into a stop, cut the engine, and turned toward him."Home, sweet home," he muttered.Clark sighed but didn’t argue. He pushed the door open, stepping out with slow, steady movements, like the world was heavier tonight.Adam followed.Clark didn’t wait. He walked ahead, heading toward the stairs without hesitation. Of course.Adam let out a breath, shaking his head before following.Floor after floor.Clark kept pace. Silent. Focused. Maybe even a little too focused.By the time they reached his door, Adam was ready to dump his a

  • Gold & Sand   Chapter 229

    The meal was decent.Clark had barely tasted it, too busy keeping his posture sharp, his expression unreadable. Adam, on the other hand, ate like a man who didn’t give a shit about the room full of rich people side-eyeing them.Clark had expected whispers, lingering stares—but the real fun started when Nicholas Sinclair, Emery’s fiancé, finally made his way over."Clark," Nicholas greeted smoothly, wine glass in hand, a carefully measured smile tugging at his lips. "I’m so glad you could make it."Clark forced a polite smirk, barely looking up from his plate. `Fuck off, Nicholas.’Adam, still chewing, barely glanced at the man."Nicholas." Clark set his glass down. "Congratulations."Nicholas gave a gracious chuckle, full of fake modesty. "Oh, thank you, really. It’s a new chapter, isn’t it?"Clark resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Nicholas was gloating.And then—he turned to Adam.Clark tensed."I don’t believe we’ve met," Nicholas said

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