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Last Updated:
2024-07-12 10:10:29
CiscaMask off; keep your eyes on the pages.đ Warningâ ď¸: This chapter contains some violent scenes.
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INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â TEAM COLLINS AND LU
Thirty-Three As Collins walked into Reynolds, he knew that time was going to be their greatest enemy, not Payne, not anything else. If things went south, he knew he was going to die. Guin would die as well. Merciful heavens. Ajax' sister was alive. The reverse could be the case if they didn't act quickly. Without a brief glance to the familiar faces he walked by, he stormed the hallway, bellowing Ajax' name. He scowled at the huge live portrait of Ajax on the wall. He wanted the real guy, not his pictorial representation."Dude, what's the problem?" Owen asked as Collins walked right into him. "Owen." Collins shook his head when he stopped seeing stars from the impact of walking right into muscular Owen. "I need to see Ajax.""Don't we all? I heard he ran after your sister. Looks like she decided to take out Payne on her own this evening.""Shit." Collins rubbed his face."Let's sit it out while we wait for them. Lucrecia is somewhere around the farm." He said. It was no news that
Last Updated : 2024-07-18INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â SHOTS FIRED
Thirty-Four May basked in her new found freedom as she stuffed her mouth with pizza. Her stomach growled, and she giggled. "Looks like my baby has an appetite tonight." "I guess you can say that. Guess who else has an appetite?" Eric murmured playfully wiggling his brows and, inching closer to her on the couch. "Keep off. Until you've found a permanent housing, and provided security, I'm not tangling. You are considered a danger to me and the baby." She said with her stuffed mouth as she stood up. " I'm exhausted for no reason." She threw herself on the bed. "Understandably so. I'm so sorry for putting you in this situation." Eric sent her a sympathizing look. "I will make it up to you." "Don't you dare get sweet on me. If you make me fall for you more, I don't think I can handle it. It's not your fault we're holed up in this hotel while Payne's men prowl the city on the lookout for us." Suddenly, there was a bang on the door. May froze. Eric stood abruptly, instantly reaching f
Last Updated : 2024-09-02INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â SAVING LIVES
Thirty-Five Melinda felt Ajax go still in her hands as Lorren broke the news. She couldn't quite place a finger on what he felt as Lorren repeated for the second time, that his sister, Guinevere Smith was alive and unhale under Payne's roof. Joy, relief, shock, fear, anger. She could feel all of them at once rolling off his stiff shoulders."I don't understand. All this time..." Ajax lacked the words to express himself in that moment. He felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders and then a truck decided to climb his back in its place. He rubbed his face with his free hand as Melinda held on to the other. He had to be dreaming. The knowlege that Guin was alive should have been enough to give him that burst of joy he had imagined he would have when this moment came, but knowing that Payne had been holding her captive all these years set his blood on fire. He was angry and he was afraid. Ajax Reynolds Smith was afraid for the first time in a very long time. If Payne fo
Last Updated : 2024-11-26INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â THE GALLOWS
Thirty-SixPayne drummed his fingers on the foot stool beside him as he watched the burning logs crackle in the fireplace. He smiled to himself, picturing the many ways Melinda would react when she saw her pathetic friend, Samantha. He had gone over the top by cracking something on her body. He couldn't remember where that was exactly. Her ribs? Her fingers? He had been so blinded by white hot rage when she called him a sick pathetic monster who didn't have the courage to live a normal life, then she had gone ahead to mention how the slimy Ajax Reynolds Smith would break every single bone on his body if Melinda didn't get to do it first.Payne sniggered, absently rubbing the five o clock shadow on his jaw as he felt another bubble of temper rise in his gut. He didn't believe Melinda would have the strength to challenge him when she saw how broken he had rendered Sam. She would weep, and then ask him what he wanted. That was the perfect scenario. That would be his new year present. The
Last Updated : 2024-11-28INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â MEETING AGAIN
Thirty Seven Melinda counted Payne's steps as he leisurely walked towards her, giving her a once over as if seeing her for the first time. In that few seconds, she took him in all at once, while mentally warming up for his opening remark and the events that would follow after. He looked normal, but make no mistake, the abnormality was in his eyes. He walked like a predator who wanted to take his time to enjoy his kill. His smile was like a smirk. Every move he made sent wicked chills down her spine, but she stood her ground.He stopped short of four inches away from her. She glared at him, wondering what he saw at that moment. Anger or fear. At least, that was the half truth. She was scared of things going wrong. She swallowed when he took another step further. That way, not a single space remained between them. She heard Collins sharp intake of breath, but he covered it up with a rasp in his throat. Payne leisurely fisted her hair in his hands, twirling some strands around his fing
Last Updated : 2024-12-03INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT
Thirty-eight"He has to be followed. Where is he taking her to? She's already dying." Lois snapped at Ajax.Ajax wiped his face as he felt cobwebs mat his nose. "Guin. We need to get her out of here, now. Melinda is in danger, Sam is..""Dying or already dead, and we're wasting time." Lois didn't wait for his approval before dashing on her heels. "Guin, it was nice to finally meet you." Lois hollered as she raced out of the basement.Ajax chuckled. He looked at Guin and his face turned serious. Things were starting to not go as planned. He had so much to say."Guin...we.." "Don't have much time. Hector will be back here. I'm sure of it. But for what it's worth, I'm glad I got to see you again before I gave up." She toyed with the pen in her hand. Briefly, she had contemplated suicide when she heard the distant New year fire works."I'm here, Guin and I swear, nothing will separate us again. Why did you stop me from going after Hector?" Ajax asked, as he opened the cage."I was afrai
Last Updated : 2024-12-31INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â TICK TOCK
Thirty-nine"We have been infiltrated by Ajax and his men." Xavier announced.Payne shot Melinda a look. "How bad is it?" Payne clenched and unclenched his fists, fighting the biting pain in his nose and the desire to shoot Melinda."We are outnumbered." Xavier narrowed his eyes at Payne's bleeding nose, then stared in shock at Melinda's bloodied lips. She halted her movements when she felt Xavier's eyes on her."Hector?""Dead."Payne laughed. It sounded more like a bark. "Well planned. Well executed. So Collins indeed worked for Ajax Smith. Well..." He cocked the gun in his hand. "What can I say?" He aimed the gun at Melinda who froze in her move to miraculously chug her knife out of her boot with tethered hands. "The game is not over." He fired, missing her leg by a fraction and she jolted in fright. "The war is not over. Fetch me towels. One for my nose and one for Ajax." He winked at Xavier. Xavier started to leave."Oh and... bring me Collins. I think I'd love to hear the true
Last Updated : 2024-12-31INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â CHOOSE
Forty (Choose)Melinda screamed past the ringing in her ears as she watched the love of her life tumble on the floor, his fingers still trying to fight the effect of the drug. Her freed hands stayed frozen behind her while she watched his blood soak his shirt as he collapsed on the ground.She stayed frozen still, as Xavier picked him up. He tried to move his lips, but he couldn't. Her eyes moved to his shoulder. The bullet wound was somewhere between his collarbone and shoulder. His eyes were unfocused when he tried to glance at her. Melinda gulped down another sob, understanding that even at that moment, his eyes were warm, his eyes told her he loved her, even in the end. But this didn't have to be the ending. This was not how she would want her love story to end, or her fight for freedom, or her fight for her family, for Sam, for peace. No, she wouldn't let it end like this. She let her hands stay put behind her, like she didn't just shrug off the binds from her wrist, or flex he
Last Updated : 2024-12-31
Latest chapter
INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â EPILOGUE
Eight months later...Melinda stared blissfully at her reflection in the vanity mirror in her room, pleased with what she saw. Two people in endless love. Ajax' hands were around her middle from behind. He pulled her closer, trailing kisses on her shoulder to the tender spot beneath her ears. "We're going to be late." She giggled."We can just postpone our flight if we miss it. What's the worse that could happen?" He cupped her breast, wishing she wasn't clothed."Stop it." She gasped in delight and disapproval. "You don't want to make a bad first impression on my parents, would you?""Honestly, I don't care what the world thinks or says. Whether the paparazzi lurking outside your gate think that I'm the beast and you're the beauty...oh well, that's oddly accurate." His hands gripped her hips as he nudged her bottom with the evidence of his arousal. She shimmed out of his embrace, laughing. "Put on a shirt. You're seducing me and we're going to be late, and, Lucrecia isn't going to
INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â CHOOSE
Forty (Choose)Melinda screamed past the ringing in her ears as she watched the love of her life tumble on the floor, his fingers still trying to fight the effect of the drug. Her freed hands stayed frozen behind her while she watched his blood soak his shirt as he collapsed on the ground.She stayed frozen still, as Xavier picked him up. He tried to move his lips, but he couldn't. Her eyes moved to his shoulder. The bullet wound was somewhere between his collarbone and shoulder. His eyes were unfocused when he tried to glance at her. Melinda gulped down another sob, understanding that even at that moment, his eyes were warm, his eyes told her he loved her, even in the end. But this didn't have to be the ending. This was not how she would want her love story to end, or her fight for freedom, or her fight for her family, for Sam, for peace. No, she wouldn't let it end like this. She let her hands stay put behind her, like she didn't just shrug off the binds from her wrist, or flex he
INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â TICK TOCK
Thirty-nine"We have been infiltrated by Ajax and his men." Xavier announced.Payne shot Melinda a look. "How bad is it?" Payne clenched and unclenched his fists, fighting the biting pain in his nose and the desire to shoot Melinda."We are outnumbered." Xavier narrowed his eyes at Payne's bleeding nose, then stared in shock at Melinda's bloodied lips. She halted her movements when she felt Xavier's eyes on her."Hector?""Dead."Payne laughed. It sounded more like a bark. "Well planned. Well executed. So Collins indeed worked for Ajax Smith. Well..." He cocked the gun in his hand. "What can I say?" He aimed the gun at Melinda who froze in her move to miraculously chug her knife out of her boot with tethered hands. "The game is not over." He fired, missing her leg by a fraction and she jolted in fright. "The war is not over. Fetch me towels. One for my nose and one for Ajax." He winked at Xavier. Xavier started to leave."Oh and... bring me Collins. I think I'd love to hear the true
INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT
Thirty-eight"He has to be followed. Where is he taking her to? She's already dying." Lois snapped at Ajax.Ajax wiped his face as he felt cobwebs mat his nose. "Guin. We need to get her out of here, now. Melinda is in danger, Sam is..""Dying or already dead, and we're wasting time." Lois didn't wait for his approval before dashing on her heels. "Guin, it was nice to finally meet you." Lois hollered as she raced out of the basement.Ajax chuckled. He looked at Guin and his face turned serious. Things were starting to not go as planned. He had so much to say."Guin...we.." "Don't have much time. Hector will be back here. I'm sure of it. But for what it's worth, I'm glad I got to see you again before I gave up." She toyed with the pen in her hand. Briefly, she had contemplated suicide when she heard the distant New year fire works."I'm here, Guin and I swear, nothing will separate us again. Why did you stop me from going after Hector?" Ajax asked, as he opened the cage."I was afrai
INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â MEETING AGAIN
Thirty Seven Melinda counted Payne's steps as he leisurely walked towards her, giving her a once over as if seeing her for the first time. In that few seconds, she took him in all at once, while mentally warming up for his opening remark and the events that would follow after. He looked normal, but make no mistake, the abnormality was in his eyes. He walked like a predator who wanted to take his time to enjoy his kill. His smile was like a smirk. Every move he made sent wicked chills down her spine, but she stood her ground.He stopped short of four inches away from her. She glared at him, wondering what he saw at that moment. Anger or fear. At least, that was the half truth. She was scared of things going wrong. She swallowed when he took another step further. That way, not a single space remained between them. She heard Collins sharp intake of breath, but he covered it up with a rasp in his throat. Payne leisurely fisted her hair in his hands, twirling some strands around his fing
INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â THE GALLOWS
Thirty-SixPayne drummed his fingers on the foot stool beside him as he watched the burning logs crackle in the fireplace. He smiled to himself, picturing the many ways Melinda would react when she saw her pathetic friend, Samantha. He had gone over the top by cracking something on her body. He couldn't remember where that was exactly. Her ribs? Her fingers? He had been so blinded by white hot rage when she called him a sick pathetic monster who didn't have the courage to live a normal life, then she had gone ahead to mention how the slimy Ajax Reynolds Smith would break every single bone on his body if Melinda didn't get to do it first.Payne sniggered, absently rubbing the five o clock shadow on his jaw as he felt another bubble of temper rise in his gut. He didn't believe Melinda would have the strength to challenge him when she saw how broken he had rendered Sam. She would weep, and then ask him what he wanted. That was the perfect scenario. That would be his new year present. The
INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â SAVING LIVES
Thirty-Five Melinda felt Ajax go still in her hands as Lorren broke the news. She couldn't quite place a finger on what he felt as Lorren repeated for the second time, that his sister, Guinevere Smith was alive and unhale under Payne's roof. Joy, relief, shock, fear, anger. She could feel all of them at once rolling off his stiff shoulders."I don't understand. All this time..." Ajax lacked the words to express himself in that moment. He felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders and then a truck decided to climb his back in its place. He rubbed his face with his free hand as Melinda held on to the other. He had to be dreaming. The knowlege that Guin was alive should have been enough to give him that burst of joy he had imagined he would have when this moment came, but knowing that Payne had been holding her captive all these years set his blood on fire. He was angry and he was afraid. Ajax Reynolds Smith was afraid for the first time in a very long time. If Payne fo
INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â SHOTS FIRED
Thirty-Four May basked in her new found freedom as she stuffed her mouth with pizza. Her stomach growled, and she giggled. "Looks like my baby has an appetite tonight." "I guess you can say that. Guess who else has an appetite?" Eric murmured playfully wiggling his brows and, inching closer to her on the couch. "Keep off. Until you've found a permanent housing, and provided security, I'm not tangling. You are considered a danger to me and the baby." She said with her stuffed mouth as she stood up. " I'm exhausted for no reason." She threw herself on the bed. "Understandably so. I'm so sorry for putting you in this situation." Eric sent her a sympathizing look. "I will make it up to you." "Don't you dare get sweet on me. If you make me fall for you more, I don't think I can handle it. It's not your fault we're holed up in this hotel while Payne's men prowl the city on the lookout for us." Suddenly, there was a bang on the door. May froze. Eric stood abruptly, instantly reaching f
INSIDE OUTÂ Â Â TEAM COLLINS AND LU
Thirty-Three As Collins walked into Reynolds, he knew that time was going to be their greatest enemy, not Payne, not anything else. If things went south, he knew he was going to die. Guin would die as well. Merciful heavens. Ajax' sister was alive. The reverse could be the case if they didn't act quickly. Without a brief glance to the familiar faces he walked by, he stormed the hallway, bellowing Ajax' name. He scowled at the huge live portrait of Ajax on the wall. He wanted the real guy, not his pictorial representation."Dude, what's the problem?" Owen asked as Collins walked right into him. "Owen." Collins shook his head when he stopped seeing stars from the impact of walking right into muscular Owen. "I need to see Ajax.""Don't we all? I heard he ran after your sister. Looks like she decided to take out Payne on her own this evening.""Shit." Collins rubbed his face."Let's sit it out while we wait for them. Lucrecia is somewhere around the farm." He said. It was no news that
