I could barely hear anything over the pounding of my heart. The world around me was a blur, the sounds of cracking walls and shifting debris filled my ears, mixing with the frantic gasps of breath from everyone in the room. My hand was still gripped tightly by Rowan’s, and I felt him pulling me forward, but the ground beneath us was shifting, slipping away with each passing second.“Rowan—what’s happening?!” I gasped, trying to make sense of the chaos that surrounded us.“We’re running out of time!” His voice was strained, barely audible over the noise. His grip tightened around my wrist as he pulled me along, his steps quick and purposeful. “We need to get out of here, now!”The entire villa felt as if it was crumbling around us. The walls groaned, the floor beneath us shaking violently, and I could feel the vibration of the tremors in the air, the oppressive weight of fear pressing down on my chest.I stumbled as we made our way through the darkened hallway, my legs trembling, my he
I woke to darkness. My head throbbed, and the metallic taste of blood lingered in my mouth. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was alive or dead. My arms were restrained behind me, the cold bite of metal cuffs cutting into my wrists. A faint glow from a single flickering bulb overhead cast eerie shadows on the walls."Pamela?" Rowan's voice, hoarse and laced with concern, cut through the haze of my thoughts. "I'm here," I croaked, trying to adjust my eyes to the dim light. "Are you okay?""Just barely," he said with a bitter chuckle. "They hit me pretty hard, but I’m in one piece."We were in what looked like an underground chamber. The walls were damp, the air thick with the smell of mildew and rust. My heart sank as I realized we had been captured. The escape tunnel had been a trap all along.A heavy door creaked open, and the sound of boots echoed against the stone floor. My stomach churned as James walked in, his silhouette framed by the blinding light of the corridor behind him. H
lMy head throbbed as I woke in yet another dimly lit room. The taste of blood lingered on my tongue, and my wrists burned from the cuffs that once again held me captive. The last thing I remembered was Joana’s trembling hands and the deafening roar of her gunshot echoing in the narrow corridor. "Pamela," Rowan's voice was weak, distant but unmistakably alive. "Rowan?" I croaked, forcing my eyes open. He was slumped against a wall a few feet away, his hands bound behind his back, his face pale but determined. Relief flooded through me; at least we were still together.Before I could respond, the metallic groan of a door being pushed open interrupted us. James stepped inside, his usual smugness replaced by a dangerous calm. Behind him, Joana hovered, her expression a mixture of regret and fear. “Well, aren’t you two resilient?” James began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I was starting to think you were indestructible. But even the strongest foundations have cracks, don’t they?”
The air was thick with ash, the acrid smell of smoke stinging my nostrils as we stared at the silhouette emerging from the burning wreckage. James stood tall, his suit torn, his face streaked with soot and blood. He was like a specter of vengeance, his piercing eyes locked on us.Rowan shifted in front of me, positioning himself as a shield. Joana, trembling beside me, gripped my arm so tightly I could feel her nails digging into my skin.“You think you’ve escaped?” James’s voice cut through the roar of the flames, unnervingly steady despite the chaos around us. “You’ve merely postponed the inevitable.”“James,” Rowan said, his tone a dangerous growl. “Let this go. You’ve lost. Walk away before you destroy yourself.”James let out a harsh laugh. “Destroy myself? Oh, Rowan, you underestimate the depths of my resolve. You’re not leaving here alive.”From behind his back, James revealed a gun. The metal gleamed ominously in the flickering firelight, and my heart sank. Rowan tensed, his f
The air was still thick with smoke as we huddled together in the makeshift shelter Rowan had found. The explosion had drawn authorities and emergency crews to the site, but we couldn’t risk being discovered—not with James still out there. Every sound outside felt like a potential threat, every shadow a lurking enemy.Rowan sat by the entrance, his body tense and his eyes sharp, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. Joana clung to my side, her trembling hand gripping mine as if letting go would mean losing everything.“What now?” Joana whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of my own heart.Rowan didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on the forest outside. “We wait. We regroup. And then we finish this.”I swallowed hard. “What does that mean? We can’t just—”He cut me off with a glance, his jaw tight. “It means James won’t stop until one of us is dead. We need a plan.”Joana let out a shaky breath. “Do you think he survived the blast?”Rowan’s lips pressed into a
The blade pressed against my neck was cold, sharp, and unyielding. James's breath was hot against my ear as he dragged me through the abandoned alley behind the warehouse. My mind raced, a cacophony of fear and adrenaline screaming at me to fight back, to do something—anything—but his grip was like steel, unrelenting."You're quieter than I expected," James said, his tone laced with mockery. "Where's all that fire from earlier, Pamela?"I swallowed hard, my voice trembling but defiant. "Let me go, James. You're not going to win this."He chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating through me. "Winning isn't the point anymore. It's about making sure you and everyone else understand the price of defying me."We moved deeper into the shadows, away from the warehouse. The faint shouts of Rowan and Joana faded into the distance, replaced by the eerie stillness of the city outskirts. My feet stumbled over loose gravel, and James yanked me upright with a brutal tug."Keep up," he snarled. "I’d hate
The next few days were a whirlwind of police interviews, statements, and sleepless nights. Rowan stayed by my side, a silent guardian, his presence both a comfort and a reminder of how close we had come to losing everything. But even with James behind bars, the unease in my chest refused to dissipate.I stood by the window of Rowan's apartment, staring out at the city lights. It was supposed to feel like closure, like safety. Instead, it felt like the calm before a storm."Pamela?" Rowan's voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see him standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. "You’ve barely eaten. Joana’s worried about you. So am I.""I’m fine," I lied, wrapping my arms around myself. "Just…processing everything."He stepped clo
The forest was an endless maze of shadows, each one twisting and shifting as if alive. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled against the grip of the masked figure dragging me deeper into the woods. The rough hand clamped over my mouth stifled my screams, and the fear coursing through me was paralyzing."Stop squirming," a deep voice hissed in my ear, his breath hot and rancid. "You’re only making it worse."I kicked out, my foot connecting with his shin. He grunted in pain but tightened his hold, his arm like a vice around my waist. My fingers fumbled with the emergency device Rowan had given me. It was still in my hand, but pressing the button without alerting my captor seemed impossible.As the forest grew denser, the figure paused, looking around as though searching for something—or someone. My
The cool evening air wrapped around Pamela as she stood on the balcony of Rowan’s penthouse, her fingers gripping the cold steel railing. Below, the city buzzed with life, neon lights reflecting off the rain-slicked streets. It had been days since the chaos had unfolded, but the tension in the air showed no signs of dissipating. She could still feel the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on her chest. A chill crept in, and it wasn’t just from the night breeze.Rowan stepped behind her, his presence powerful yet comforting. His arms slid around her waist, pulling her against him as he pressed a soft kiss against the side of her neck. Pamela closed her eyes, leaning into him, feeling the warmth of his body chase away the cold that seeped into her bones.“You’re quiet,” he murmured, his voice laced with concern.“I’m just thinking,” she replied, tilting her head back to rest on his shoulder. “About everything.”He tightened his grip around her as if afraid she’d slip aw
Rowan’s grip on Pamela tightened as he led her through the grand halls of his estate. The storm outside rattled the windows, the howling wind mirroring the chaos swirling inside his chest. He had spent years shielding himself from attachments, believing that power and control were the only currencies that mattered. Yet, with Pamela beside him, trembling but unwavering, he knew there was no escape from the emotions unraveling between them.The marble floors reflected the flickering candlelight that lined the walls, casting ethereal shadows in the dimly lit corridor. Rowan had built the estate to display his dominance, each room a testament to his success. But as they hurried toward his private study, the grandeur that had once impressed him faded into the background. The only thing that mattered now was the woman by his side, the pulse of her heartbeat synchronizing with his own.Pamela’s heart pounded as she matched his hurried steps. She had spent months trying to push him away, conv
The dim glow of the chandelier cast long, shifting shadows across the luxurious room as Pamela paced back and forth. Her heart pounded against her ribs, the weight of everything pressing down on her shoulders. The night outside was eerily quiet, yet inside, a storm raged between her thoughts and emotions.Rowan sat on the edge of the bed, watching her with an intensity that made her shiver. He was a man who had conquered boardrooms and adversaries alike, but now, faced with Pamela’s turmoil, he seemed almost vulnerable.“Pamela, please sit down,” he said softly, reaching out a hand.She halted, turning to face him, her expression a mixture of hesitation and longing. “I can’t,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself. “I keep thinking about everything. About us. About Joana. About what’s coming next.”Rowan exhaled, standing up and walking toward her. His presence was warm, comforting, but Pamela still felt the lingering ghost of the past between them. He gently cupped her face
Rowan’s grip on Pamela tightened as they stood at the edge of the estate’s grand balcony, the city lights shimmering below like fallen stars. The weight of everything that had happened pressed heavily against them, but for once, in this moment, it felt like the world had stopped just for them.“I don’t want to lose you, Pamela,” Rowan murmured, his voice raw with emotion. “Not now, not ever.”Pamela inhaled sharply, the sincerity in his words making her heart clench. Her hands instinctively reached up to cup his face, her thumb tracing the faint scar above his eyebrow. “Then don’t let go,” she whispered, pressing her forehead against his. “I’m still here.”A shadow passed across Rowan’s face, his jaw tightening. “For how long?” His voice wavered, betraying the confidence he usually carried.Pamela frowned. “What are you talking about?”“Things aren’t as simple as we want them to be.” Rowan exhaled heavily, pulling away slightly. “I found something. Something about your father’s deal w
Pamela stood in the dimly lit corridor of the Hamilton estate, her heart hammering against her ribs as she tried to steady her breath. The soft glow of the chandelier above cast elongated shadows along the walls, mirroring the turbulence within her. She had spent so long running, so long trying to escape the chains that bound her to Rowan Hamilton, yet here she was—trapped once more in his world, but this time, not by force.Rowan’s voice was a low murmur behind her. “You’re trembling.”She swallowed hard, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. “No, I’m not.”He let out a quiet chuckle, stepping closer. The warmth of his presence was magnetic, drawing her in despite herself. She should resist—should put as much distance between them as possible—but she found herself standing still, waiting.“Pamela,” he murmured, his fingers brushing against her arm. The simple touch sent a jolt of electricity down her spine.She turned sharply, facing him. “What do you want, Rowan?” Her voice c
The tension between Rowan and Pamela crackled like a live wire, charged with unspoken words and undeniable longing. The moon hung high above them, casting silver light across the vast estate, making everything look surreal, as if time itself had slowed down just for them.Pamela stood by the grand window of Rowan’s study, her arms crossed over her chest as she tried to suppress the storm of emotions raging inside her. Rowan, seated in his chair, watched her with piercing eyes, the weight of unspoken confessions heavy between them.“Say something,” she finally broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.Rowan ran a hand through his tousled hair, sighing. “What do you want me to say, Pamela? That I regret everything? That I should have fought harder for you?” His voice held a sharp edge, laced with frustration and something deeper—pain.Pamela turned, her gaze fierce. “I never asked you to fight for me, Rowan. But you walked away like I meant nothing. Like what we had was just
The dimly lit room seemed to shrink around them, filled only with the tension building between Rowan and Pamela as they stood there, their faces inches apart. For a moment, the world outside their bubble ceased to exist—no threats, no conspiracies, just the two of them bound together by something deeper than either had ever dared to acknowledge.“I don’t want to lose you,” Rowan murmured, his voice laced with desperation. His words hung in the air like a challenge, daring Pamela to let her guard down.Pamela swallowed the lump forming in her throat, her heart racing with each beat. She had fought so hard to keep her heart guarded, to resist the undeniable pull between them. But standing there, cocooned in his arms, resistance felt futile.“You won’t,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above a whisper. The words tumbled out of her mouth as if on their own, as if she was finally ready to admit to herself, to Rowan, that she couldn’t deny their connection any longer.A slow, deviou
Rowan’s grip on Pamela’s hand tightened as they stepped onto the balcony, the city lights shimmering like distant stars. The cool night breeze rustled her hair, and for a moment, she let herself be lost in his warmth. There was something different about him tonight—something softer, yet still as intense as ever.“Are you sure about this?” Pamela asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, unsure if it was from the cold or his proximity.Rowan turned to her, his dark eyes searching hers. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”She swallowed hard, the weight of their shared past pressing down on her. The tension between them had always been undeniable, but tonight, it felt like it was reaching a breaking point.Before she could speak, Rowan closed the distance between them. His fingers gently traced the outline of her jaw before tilting her face up to his. “I need you to understand something,” he murmured. “You’re not just an obligation
Pamela's heart pounded as she clutched Rowan’s hand, their fingers interlaced in a silent promise neither dared to break. The air was thick with tension, but beneath it all, an undeniable pull bound them together—one neither of them could ignore anymore.Rowan’s gaze flickered to Pamela’s lips before meeting her eyes again, his breath heavy with unspoken words. “Pamela,” he murmured, his voice both desperate and tender, “I don’t want to waste any more time. Whatever happens, I want to be by your side.”Pamela’s lips parted, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had spent so much time running—from him, from her feelings, from the life she thought she could never have. But looking at him now, she saw the truth in his eyes—undeniable, unwavering. He was hers, and she was his.The moment between them crackled like a live wire, but before she could respond, the distant echo of footsteps broke the spell. Pamela tensed, her instincts sharpening. Rowan’s jaw clenched, his hand tightening