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ADIRA

Author: Phy Duneiz
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-01-25 02:17:18

The audacity of this man!

I mean, it’s not like I intentionally wanted to fall on him—though I might have entertained the thought once or twice. Or thrice. Sue me; the man is undeniably fine. If God had a favorite, it would be him.

Even seated, I could tell he was big and the way all the other men in the room seemed to defer to him suggested he was the boss. I could barely see him under the dim lights, but his eyes shone like beacons—blue enough to rival the clearest ocean. And let’s not forget that midnight black hair, currently styled into a man bun that screamed, “I’m too handsome to care!”

I was pretty sure the server hovering nearby was about to offer him her tits as a drink service, which is a new level of dedication I might consider for the next job at the company.

But I should have known that someone as jaw-droppingly beautiful as him would also have a sour personality, hence my current position sprawled on the floor like a common rat after my heels chose this very moment to betray me.

I’m so going to kill him; I thought as I glared up at his stunning face.

My anger faltered when I noticed the smile on his face.

Are those dimples?!

I felt like I was about to spontaneously combust.

Focus, Adira! I repeated over and over to myself.

Murder! Yes, murder—that’s what I was plotting in my head. Definitely not how the suit hugged his muscular body so perfectly.

Ugh, stop it. You’re meant to be angry.

Shaking myself out of my lust-induced daydream, I decided it was finally time to unleash my fury upon him.

“Who do you—”

What the hell?!

Suddenly, the whole club was filled with the sounds of rapid gun shots, screams replacing the sounds of laughter and music a few moments ago. Bullets flew everywhere, and I guess one of them landed beside me cause the glass table near me exploded into a thousand glittering shards, pulling me out of my shock and eliciting a scream from my lungs—a raw, primal sound that I barely recognized as mine.

No, no, no, not now!

I began to feel the familiar clawing sensation of a panic attack consuming me and I remembered why I avoided stressful situations. My chest tightened, my vision became hazy, and my mind spiraled with worst-case scenarios such as me dying gruesomely here. This is so not what I expected today.

Focus, Adira. What did Dr. Shane say to do in moments like these?

Trying to breathe in and out, I remembered the grounding techniques he taught during our numerous and mostly futile sessions together.

Well, I guess they aren’t all that futile now, are they? My overactive mind helpfully chimed in.

Ignoring my thoughts, I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself, through trembling lips, to whisper. “Okay, Adira. Let’s start with five things you can see. How hard can that be?”

I shouldn’t have said that. As my gaze darted frantically around the room, all I saw was blood, corpses, glass shards, which were currently digging into my hands, broken furniture and… Is that a head—a dismembered head?

Oh God.

I think I’ve seen enough, I thought as I squeezed my eyes shut, sucking in a shaky breath. “Feel… Four things you can feel, Adira,” I murmured, trying to steady myself.

The blood dripping from my hands. My body trembling uncontrollably. The asphyxiating tightness in my chest. The cold floor beneath my palms.

With my eyes still shut, I whispered, my voice breaking, “Three things you can hear.”

Screams. Gunfire. My fast-paced heartbeat.

It wasn’t working. The grounding technique wasn’t working.

My breaths quickened, became shallower. I could feel myself figuratively falling, but I carried on, determined to evade this panic attack cause this wasn’t the time— I needed to get out of here. Immediately.

“Two things you can smell,” I whispered to myself, barely able to focus on my surroundings.

Gunpowder. Blooda lot of blood.

“One thing you can taste.”

 The dryness of my mouth.

The panic wasn’t subsiding. If anything, it was rising, suffocating me, pulling me under like an unrelenting tide. My chest felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, and my vision… I think all I can see at this point are black dots. I need to get out of here, I thought desperately as I tried to crawl out from where I’d taken cover.

Pen.

The thought hit me like a sledgehammer. I hadn’t seen her since the shootout began. Images of her bloodied, lifeless body sprawled across the club floor invaded my mind. My breath hitched, the kleftiko I had eaten this afternoon about to make a reappearance again.

“No,” I choked out, clutching my knees and rocking back and forth as morbid thoughts of my cousin plagued me. She could be dead. She could already be gone. As I sat there on the floor, my mind spiraling further out of control, I saw him—the man that pushed me to the floor.

Through the haze, I watched his sharp eyes scan the disaster around us, his expression grim and focused as he barked out words to people around him. I couldn’t hear him though. The words were muffled, drowned out by the insistent pounding in my ears.

His gaze, filled with something fierce that managed to ground me for a strained heartbeat, locked with mine for a brief moment.

Ignoring my reaction to him, I shook my head as vigorously as I could to get myself together, but that too was a total fail. As the blackness crept in, my words slurred as I mumbled, “I’m still murdering you if I survive this.”

The last thing I remembered was the tormented look on his face before everything went dark.

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  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ADIRA

    I awoke to a chorus of murmurings coming from a direction I couldn’t ascertain.Where on Earth am I? As I groggily surveyed my surroundings, I noticed that nearly everything was cloaked in shades of darkness—blacks, deep mahoganies, and a medley of colors that screamed “depressing.” It felt like I had stumbled into a gothic art exhibit gone wrong.I tried to hoist myself off the bed, which felt like an Olympic event, and made my way toward the door, only to be greeted by a heated argument coming from the other side.“Nónos, we cannot keep the girl. What if she figures out who we are? It’s too risky! We could expand through other means, and you know that.”Boss? That’s not ominous at all and why the hell would he want to keep me?“She’s our best option, and you know it.” A second voice chimed in—definitely the rude fool who had made a mockery of me earlier. Revenge simmered in my veins like molten lava, even as fear twisted my stomach into knots.“Andronikos, you’re my friend, but thi

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-25
  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ANDRONIKOS

    As I strolled into my room, I began to peel off my dress shirt, attempting to massage the tension out of my neck. Today had been nothing short of shocking, that much was clear.I don’t know if it was sheer luck—or perhaps fate—that the daughter of my family’s sworn enemy had somehow ended up in my lap. Coincidence? Maybe. But I’ve never been one to believe in coincidences. This was clearly meant to happen, and I’d be damned if I didn’t milk this golden opportunity for all it was worth.Recalling how pretty she looked with those wide, terrified eyes, I chuckled to myself. I could’ve sworn I saw a glimmer of longing in there too.Ah, it seems my little captive is affected by me as well. How delightful!I’m going to have so much fun with her, I couldn’t help but think.As I prepared to head to the shower with my towel in hand, my phone rang, jolting me from my thoughts.It better be Iason with some good news, I thought as I answered the call.“It’s done boss,” he said, his voice devoid o

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-25
  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ADIRA

    “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” I screamed into the plush fabric of the pillow, my muffled screams filled with unrestrained frustration. Screaming out loud was a moment of catharsis—one I desperately needed right now.As I raised my head, I glanced around the room, trying to process my new reality. The bright and airy ambiance of the room was a stark contrast to the dark, claustrophobic space I stayed in the previous night. When I woke up in this unfamiliar room, the sun had barely risen with soft light peeking through the gauzy cream curtains. As beautiful as the vibrant gold and blue décor looked, it still served as a cruel reminder of the freedom I’d just lost.“Well, at least he had the good sense to give me a room with windows,” I muttered sarcastically to myself with an eye roll.Not that it matters if you can’t go home, my brain reminded me.“Home,” I whispered, the word leaving a sour taste in my mouth. A pang of longing hit me as I thought of my family—the same ones I couldn’t wait to

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-25
  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ANDRONIKOS

    As I stood in the room, brushing my fingers against the ornate floral patterns on the duvet covers, I felt an odd sense of nostalgia mixed with regret. The morning sun streamed through the delicate pink curtains, it's warm rays an unwanted reminder of the previous occupant of the lavish pink room– my dead sister.Selene loved this room very much. ‘My pink haven’, she called it. And while I didn't want to dwell in the past, it was hard to ignore the shadows it cast on my present. Walking away from her room, bittersweet memories flooded my mind, but I ignored them. Today, I had other things to deal with, namely, Adira. I had acted like an ass to her last night, something I’d never admit to her but I still felt a need to make up for it somehow.With a withdrawn sigh, I pulled a sleek black box from my pocket, my fingers playing over the cool face of the wickedly curved blade of Tuto. The ornate knife, though flashy, always seemed to accompany me wherever I go. There was just something so

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-25
  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ADIRA

    When I woke up this morning, I was hit with the reminder of yesterday’s events. From the phone Andronikos gave me to our surprisingly civil conversation last night, everything still felt surreal. I couldn’t shake the weird rush of excitement that bubbled up at the thought of him, though I pushed it aside like an embarrassing diary entry.Focus, Adira. I had bigger things to deal with than thinking of that demon. Picking up the new phone, I quickly dialed Pen’s number.The phone barely rang once before I heard Pen’s familiar chirpy voice. “Pen speaking. Who’s this?”“It’s Adira, Pen.”“Adira! Oh God, I was so concerned. I thought the world’s hottest man might’ve taken you!”I snorted, unable to help myself. It seems Andronikos had gotten to her before me. “Thanks for your concern, Pen. I’m really having the time of my life,” I deadpanned with an eye roll.“Oh, come on. Living with an Adonis isn’t exactly a tragedy,” she eased.“Hold on. You’ve seen him?”“Nope. But he sounded fucking h

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-25
  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ANDRONIKOS

    Sitting in the study, surrounded by sheets of paper and books, my attention couldn’t help but wander— not to the myriad problems we were solving, but to Adira. With dark braids that framed a sharp, expressive face and eyes that shone with a mix of brilliance and calculated fury, she was a vision I could spend the entirety of my life admiring. As she worked through the complexities of Abara Inc. with a precision that would make most CEOs weep, I came to the realization that my little captive wasn’t just beautiful but formidable also.But as she rattled on about distribution logistics, my thoughts were drawn back to this afternoon’s activities. The room dissolved into the sticky glow of the warehouse, and the phantom smell of blood and sweat clawed at my memory. If I thought hard enough, I could still hear the guttural, pleading cries of the Aslan brothers—screams that spurred me on as I tortured them mercilessly for their insolence. Removing their fingernails, one by one, was almost… p

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-25
  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ADIRA

    It was well past the witching hour, and I was still wide awake. Sleep had evaded me tonight, leaving me tangled up in the sheets, thoughts of him plaguing me. The last person I wanted to think about, yet the only one who consumed every corner of my mind like a malignant tumor. Andronikos. Just the thought of his name alone felt like swallowing the finest whiskey—burning, but intoxicatingly sweet.With a frustrated sigh, I threw the damp sheets off my body, swung my legs over the bed side and made my way towards the door. The balmy Greece summer air clung to my skin, making my tank top and skimpy shorts stick uncomfortably to my body. Barefoot, I padded downstairs to the kitchen, hoping that a glass of water would help cool the inferno raging inside me. But I know too well that water won’t be enough to quench this particular fire.When I got to the kitchen, the lights were switched off, the room only dimly lit by the haunting glow of the moon that filtered through the large windows. I

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-06
  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ANDRONIKOS

    Letting Adira leave after that kiss was probably the dumbest but wisest decision I’ve ever made. She was right, we shouldn’t have been kissing, but we did anyway. I was this close to losing myself in her. Literally. Her lips, her taste, the way her breath hitched when I sucked on her tongue, maddened me.Fuck.I knew having her close to me would be dangerous, but I didn’t account for how addicting her presence would become. It’s now something I can’t control and to be honest, I don’t think I want to control it. She invades my thoughts, my dreams and it’s a problem, one I can’t afford, not with everything on the line. The stakes are too fucking high for distractions and that’s exactly what Adira is—a distraction.Feeling the need to clear my head, I leave the kitchen, the lingering warmth of her kiss still burning against my skin. It didn’t make sense to stay there, not with the memory of that moment eating at me. I needed to feel something else, something to drown the fire that Adira

    Huling Na-update : 2025-03-06

Pinakabagong kabanata

  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ANDRONIKOS

    When Iason and I got back, one of the headguards called to inform me about custom issues. I assumed it was just a matter of slipping some money into their hands and having the problem disappear, but that wasn’t the case.They were adamant that the cars wouldn’t be released until they were thoroughly checked—an issue I really didn’t have the patience to fucking deal with right now.Adira and I finally arrived at the port, and as I had been since we got into the car, I continued to ignore her—just as it always should have been.I seemed to have forgotten that she was the enemy. That she probably knew about the vault all along and had been secretly laughing at my ignorance. Not again. I’d do well to keep my promise to protect her, but nothing more.First, we had to settle this nuisance of an issue, and then I will start looking into the vault my uncle mentioned. He was an enigma, but when he was lucid, he was never wrong.At the dock, I spotted Iason talking to one of the officers—the he

  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ADIRA

    As Baba had benevolently given me back my position, I was at the firm today still trying to investigate this debilitating fraud issue the company was currently facing. Despite our relentless efforts, we still hadn’t managed to track down the perpetrator. However, one silver lining was that since we had been closely monitoring the financial records, there have been no obvious traces of embezzlement.And it better remain that way.While I was still poring over the account books on my desktop, a sharp knock on my office door pulled me out of my thoughts. I immediately assumed it was Thea. I had sent her to fetch me a cup of coffee a while ago.“Come in, Thea,” I called out absentmindedly, my eyes still skimming through the endless rows of numbers on my screen.But instead of Thea, an entirely different person stepped into the room.Andronikos.I hadn’t seen him in two days.The moment I registered his presence, I instinctively stood from my chair, my body moving before my mind could full

  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ADIRA/ANDRONIKOS

    ADIRAWhen I arrived at the firm, I half-expected to see a lot of changes, especially since Dean had been made the COO. But weirdly enough, everything still looked the same.Kace and I stepped into the elevator that will take us to Baba’s office. As we rode up, I turned to him and said, “Just stay outside the room, please. I know you were ordered to protect me, but I don’t want my father more worked up than he already is.”I didn’t get a response from him right away. There was a brief silence before he finally spoke.“As much as my will to obey your command as the boss’s lady is there, Adira, my will to Nónos is stronger. So, no—I’ll be going with you. Your father will just have to deal with it.”I swallowed, already dreading the confrontation that was about to unfold in his office.Once we were granted entry, Kace and I strode into his office. Baba stood in front of his book shelf, reading a book in his hand. He turned toward us the moment we arrived.“And that is?” He gestured towar

  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ADIRA

    I was finally going to see Mama today. I doubted Baba had been telling her everything happening back at home, and for good reason too. Mama needed to be away from stress as much as possible, but still, I believed she need to know.I picked up the note Andronikos left me, blushing as I looked at it.At least this time, you saw the note.After taking a well-needed shower following yesterday’s crying marathon, I felt refreshed and ready to take on the day. As I was heading to my dresser, I got a text from Pen.PEN❣️‼️🙈: Hi, dear cousin of mine.Me: What do you want?PEN❣️‼️🙈: So, it’s a crime for your cousin to check up on you now?Yup. She definitely wanted something.I dropped the phone on the bedside table and went ahead to look for what to wear. A difficult task considering that all I’m seeing in this walk-in closet are just colors upon colors.My goodness! When did this man get me all these?I was still in the process of choosing an outfit when my phone started ringing. The loud t

  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ANDRONIKOS

    Contrary to what Adira thought, I wasn’t actually going to do anything to her father.But her cousin, Dean?Yeah, he was definitely going to be harmed.I knew that slimy bastard had a hand in the fraud at her company, but whoever he was working with—or for—had to be powerful, because nothing traced back to him.It didn’t make sense that I was willing to help Adira’s family when they had a hand in destroying mine, but it seemed even I don’t know the lengths I’d go for her.“I’m not going to do anything to your father, flogítsa mou,” I said, dropping the phone on the other side of the bed and pulling her onto my lap. “Okay? The only person something will be happening to is that cousin of yours. I’ll just a break a few bones of his for good measure.” I finished with a nonchalant shrug.She blinked.“Some bones?! That’s all you can manage?”Huh? Is she angry or pleased? I usually can’t tell with her. Women.“Umm… yes?” I replied hesitantly. As much as I am in control when it comes to her,

  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ADIRA

    I lay on my bed, surrounded by used tissues, a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough—my favorite—and my iPad which was currently playing How to get away with murder.Yes. I was feeling particularly murderous today.How could baba do this to me? Why? After everything I had put into that company? After sacrificing my life?He says it’s because I let a criminal into his company. But is he even aware that said criminal was five minutes away from blowing his and Mama’s head off if I hadn’t cooperated?Endless nights of insomnia. Waking up to the sound of gunshots ringing in my mind, convinced that my parents and close family members had been taken away from me. And for what? To be called ungrateful?I just couldn’t deal anymore. Honestly, I just wanted to melt into this bed and remain here for the rest of my miserable life.I was currently on Season 1, Episode 9—watching the gruesome murder and body disposal of Sam—when a soft knock echoed through my room.“Go away,” I called o

  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ANDRONIKOS

    “What the fuck, Andronikos?” Iason stormed in after me, slamming the door to my office shut behind him. His face was twisted in a mix of disbelief and frustration. “You didn’t think it important to tell me—your second-in-command—about a person as pivotal as a Yakuza princess?”“Onna Oyabun,” I corrected, settling into the leather chair behind my mahogany desk.“What?” he asked, more confusion flashing across his face.“She’s no longer a Yakuza princess. She’s the lady boss, which means she holds more power than a princess ever would.”“And that helps us… how?”I shrugged, letting the weight of his question hang between us.Iason pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something in Greek about women and danger.“Nónos, I don’t know if you’ve forgotten, but the Yakuza known for their trustworthiness in our world. Their alliances are built on profit, not loyalty. And second, they’re literal rats in our line of business.”“Enough Iason,” I barked, my voice sharp enough to slice through

  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ADIRA

    Walking briskly to my office door, the CFO followed closely behind me. “Good morning, ma’am,” he greeted.“Morning,” I replied absentmindedly as I pushed open the door and made my way toward my seat.“What’s the update?” I asked, settling in.He shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, a nervous tic of his that I’d noticed before. But today, I had no patience for hesitation. Time was slipping through my fingers and I needed answers.“Now, please. I don't have time for this,” I pressed.He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “There’s no lead.”“What?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. I must have misheard him.“All the leads trace back to no one, ma’am. The offshore accounts, irregular withdrawals—everything. It's like a ghost defrauded the company. There are no footprints, digital or whatsoever.” My fingers curled into fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palm. “So what? We don't have hackers anymore?” “I’ve reached out to all the ones in my network. No results.” “

  • KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS   ANDRONIKOS

    I had come to the realization that I couldn't do this alone, so I called on the assistance of an old friend. We hadn't spoken since our fathers had tried to indoctrinate us into our dark world-a lifetime ago-but hopefully, there's no bad blood between us.Yuna Komori.That was her name the last time we met. As the only child of the Kumicho, the head of the Yakuza, she was set to inherit the crime syndicate-something her people resented.But now, she goes by the name Shizugai.A moniker earned through sheer ruthlessness. The silent killer. She leaves only corpses in her wake after dealing with her victims.My men stood behind me, armed to the teeth, their hands resting on their holsters, eyes scanning for the first signs of trouble. The gated loomed before us, a towering emblem of power, emblazoned with the insignia of a wyrm devouring a dragon-her mark.Moments later, the gates creaked opened.A group of guards stepped forward, weapons drawn, their gazes cold and unyielding."What's y

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