LOGINCELINE’S POV-“We have to go back for Courtney!”“Madame, it’s dangerous. We need to get out of here, especially you.”“Courtney needs to get out of here and get treated too!”He stopped running.He scanned the surroundings, searching for a tree strong enough to bear my weight as he lowered me. With utmost care, he eased me down until my feet touched the ground, then gently supported me against the tree’s trunk.“Use my shirt first, madam.” he instructed, then took off his black clothes.“But what about you? The air is cold.”“If others catch up with you without clothes, my body might be as cold as the wind,” he joked. “I’ll help you get dressed.”He put the sleeve of the shirt on my arm followed by my head. Using his fingertips he helped take off the clothes.“Ronnie, Courtney needs you too. Please, go back to her,” I implored.“I’m just kidding, madame.”“Huh?”“She could get through that, even if she was completely broken.”I suspected he was just trying to downplay it to ease my
CELINE’S POV-“Don’t celebrate yet. I won’t let you be taken from me!” Lucian threatened me.I gave him a mocking smile, deliberately trying to anger him. “What chance do you have against them? What chance do you have against the Fire-Hart organization? Their underbosses alone are enough to defeat you and the entire Phoenix organization. What chance do you have against Lance?”He smirked back, answering my questions with confidence. “Do you think I haven’t prepared for a possible encounter with that Lance?”The smile on my lips gradually disappeared.“Let’s go,” he said, urging me forward.As Lucian grabbed my uninjured arm, I screamed, and in that same instant, a powerful explosion ripped through the air as he suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace, shielding me with his body.He pulled out the gun then aiming at the surroundings.The rest of his men who were with us became alert to the area around us.He looked back at me and asked softly, “Are you okay, Celine? Aren’t you hurt?”
CELINE’S POV-Lucian, with a smile playing on his lips, called out to me, “Hon.”He scanned me, his gaze traveling the length of my body in a slow, deliberate descent. He stared at my wounds and the gunshot I had sustained.His eyes darkened, a storm gathering within his depths as he snarled, “Who did this to you? Point them out to me. Tell me which of my men dared to lay a hand on you.”He took off his coat and placed it on my shoulder in front of my body.“Let’s get out of here, hon.”Before he touched my hand to lift me, I pulled his hand away, throwing his coat in his face.“I would rather die right here, in this spot, than go with you again,” I declared, my voice thick with fury.I did everything I could, I even held my breath so he wouldn’t find me.I forced myself to stand up and walk as far as I could.I saw a bigger and wider tree. I sat down on its roots and leaned against the tree.When he found me, I pretended to listen intently to everything she was saying, hoping she wo
Inside the private jet, Lance received the information sent by Hannah and studied it.Hannah sent another message and Lance read it, ‘Everyone, make sure all your devices are turned off and that you do not use any devices when going to Madame Celine’s location. This is to prevent anyone from tracking that others are entering their location.’After he read it, he sent a message to Ronnie that they would meet at the landing then turned off his phone.Using the tablet, he studied the location where Celine was.A short time passed before the private jet landed. The instant he disembarked, he went to the car where Zak, Johann, and Ronnie were waiting; Ronnie was the driver.While they were on the road, he explained to the three of them which routes they would take to avoid being noticed.“We’ll go ahead alone, that way we won’t attract attention.” He explained again to the three of them.Another reason was that Johann, Ronnie, and Zak preferred only the four of them to go to Celine’s locat
⚠ ❗❕SENSITIVE CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNING : This content contains potentially disturbing material, including depictions of ab*se, cr*minal acts, or s*xual situations. Reader discretion is strongly advised.❗❕⚠ ****..“Starr, I’ll put you down first.”Starr bobbed her head.As Bianca put Starr down, ready to tear another strip of cloth, she noticed Starr wasn’t holding onto her.Starr stared at the path they had taken, her gaze filled with concern for Celine.“Starr,” Bianca grabbed her attention, but Starr was so deep in thought about her mother she didn’t hear Bianca’s call.Bianca sat down facing Starr, gently holding the child’s arms. Starr then noticed Bianca, but still kept her gaze fixed on the path they had come from.“Starr, what are you thinking about?”She shifted her gaze to Bianca. “Mummy,” she replied innocently. “Why isn’t she here yet? She said she’d follow right away. We’re so far away from her.”Bianca didn’t know how to answer the child’s questions without making her c
“Oh... My gosh, Celine.”Celine shook her head, a silent instruction for Bianca to maintain her hold over Starr’s eyes.“Mummy?” Starr called innocently.“Yes, sweetheart?” Celine asked while taking off her jacket.“Can I see you now?” Starr asked curiously and with concern.“Not yet, sweetheart.” She replied softly after taking off the rest of her clothes.Bianca’s eyes grew wide, taking in the constellation of kiss marks scattered across Celine’s skin. A wave of compassion surged through her as she struggled to imagine what Lucian could have inflicted upon Celine.As Celine worked, she knotted a piece of fabric torn from her garment, binding it with excruciating tightness around the thigh pierced by the bullet. Again, she choked back a scream, her breath escaping in a silent, forceful expulsion.“You can see me now, sweetheart.”As Bianca unwrapped the covering from Starr’s eyes, Starr immediately threw her arms around her mother, her worry pouring out in the embrace, until her gaze







