NoahThe moment Malcolm’s call ended, a chilling silence filled the room. My heart pounded in my chest. The sound of an incoming SMS startled us.I stared at Cassandra’s phone as she opened the message. On the screen was the address to an underground casino—the place where Malcolm wanted to meet. The place where everything might finally come to an end.Cassandra’s face was filled with fury. Her green eyes blazed with a fierce determination. One that I hadn’t seen in her before. “I’m going there alone,” she declared. “This needs to end, once and for all. Now that Raymond is gone, Malcolm’s target is me. I can’t let you get involved any further, Noah.”Her words hit me like a slap to the face. The thought of losing someone else was unbearable. I had lost too much already. “Cassandra, no,” I whispered, barely able to get the words out. “You can’t do this alone. It’s too dangerous.”She turned to me. Her expression softened slightly. But the resolve in her eyes didn’t waver. “Noah, I ha
NoahThe casino stood like an oasis of opulence amidst a desolate landscape. As we drove up to its entrance, I was struck by the sheer extravagance of the place. Neon lights bathed the building in a rainbow of colors. The sound of clinking chips and raucous laughter spilled into the night air. The casino promised a world of decadence and excess. The sins of the world were played out behind its glitzy doors.As we approached the entrance, a team of imposing bodyguards eyed us with suspicion. Simon, who had come along as our supposed driver and chaperone, was stopped outside. Cassandra and I exchanged a worried glance, knowing that the danger ahead was almost palpable. Simon tried to assert his right to enter, his face set in a serious expression.“I’m their chaperone,” Simon said firmly, stepping forward. “I need to be inside.”One of the guards, a huge man with a tattooed arm, shook his head dismissively. “Sorry, buddy. We’re not letting anyone in who doesn’t have a proper invite.”S
NoahThe VIP room seemed like it was closing in around us. The opulence of the space was suffocating. The walls were lined with dark, polished wood. The floor was covered in a thick, plush carpet that muffled our footsteps. Every detail of the room was carefully curated to exude power and wealth. I could feel a cold dread settling in my bones.Malcolm, lounging casually on a velvet sofa, looked up at us with a triumphant grin. He was in his element. A snake in his den. The charm he exuded was tainted by an underlying menace. This man was as dangerous as he was alluring."It’s been a long time coming, Cassandra. You know I’ve waited years for this moment," he drawled, patting the space next to him on the sofa.
NoahI could barely hear Cassandra calling my name through the haze of pain and panic. My mind was racing, trying to process the danger surrounding me. I had acted on impulse. But I didn’t regret my decision.At least Malcolm’s focus wasn’t on Cassandra anymore, giving her a chance to escape his advances. My own situation, however, was rapidly deteriorating.The two guards had me pinned down, their grips unyielding and merciless. Josie’s cold voice cut through the tension. “Follow me, boys. And bring that bitch along with you. You guys can have some fun with her,” she ordered. Her laugh was sharp and mocking. A chill ran down my spine.I struggled to escape. But my efforts were futi
NoahI shivered. The cold air mingled with my fear as I slowly opened my eyes. My head was throbbing. My heart pounded in my chest.The room around me was dim. The shadows were thick and oppressive. As if they were trying to swallow me whole. I could still hear the faint echoes of Josie's cruel laughter as she left me to the mercy of those two men.But something was wrong. The weight that had been pressing me down was gone. I blinked, trying to focus my vision through the haze of fear.One of the men lay crumpled on the floor. His body was twisted at an unnatural angle. His accomplice stood over him. His foot drove into the other man's side with a brutal, unrelenting force. The sickening sound of the impact made
NoahMy breath caught in my throat as Josie lifted the gun. Her eyes were blazing with murderous intent. Her gaze was focused on the man who had just saved me."No!" I screamed. Panic and desperation flooded every fiber of my being. I couldn’t let anyone else die for me. Not after what happened to Owen and Raymond.My body moved on its own, lunging toward the man to block the bullet. But before I could reach him, he pulled me down with him in one swift motion. His strong arms cradled my head as we hit the ground together. The world spun as we tumbled.My ear pressed against his chest. In the chaos of the moment, the sound of his heartbeat was all I could hear—a strong and steady rhythm just inches from my
RaymondThe wind whipped against my face as I plummeted down the cliffside. The world around me was reduced to a blur of jagged rocks and rushing air. I hurtled toward the wall of water below with a sickening speed.My heart pounded in my chest. Not only from the fall, but from the image that had been burned into my mind just moments before: Noah’s shocked blue eyes watching me fall, wide with fear and disbelief. “Noaaah!” I screamed her name. My voice was lost in the roar of the wind – I knew she couldn’t hear me. I could only hope she was safe, that she would somehow make it through this nightmare.As I fell, I caught a glimpse of Bob below me. His body collided with a massive rock before disappearing into the tumultuous ocean below. My eyes widened in despair. No, no, no, this can’t be happening!So, this was the end. I’d never imagined dying like this—hurtling toward my death with nothing to grab hold of but empty air. For a moment, time seemed to slow. All I could think about was
Raymond“You seem awfully familiar. What’s your name again?” Malcolm’s cold eyes bore into mine, searching for any sign of deception. His gaze was unnervingly sharp. As if he could peel away the layers of my disguise with a single look. But I didn’t flinch. I couldn't afford to.“David Watson, sir,” I responded smoothly, the alias slipping off my tongue with practiced ease. “I was hired a few weeks ago to replace one of your guards.” I kept my tone steady, my face impassive. But inside, my mind was racing. Would he buy it?Malcolm’s lips curled into a faint, disbelieving smirk as he studied me. “David Watson, huh? Interesting name. There’s something about you… your eyes, maybe.” He leaned in closer, the smell of expensive cologne mingling with something darker—something sinister. “They remind me of someone I used to know.”My heart pounded in my chest, but I maintained my composure. I stared right back at him, not showing any signs of fear. The military had done more than just piece m