The sun was barely peeking through the trees, and the air had that early morning chill when I first noticed something was wrong. Arthur and I had been on the move for days now, trying to stay ahead of whatever Vladimir had sent after us. But the problem was, no matter how far we went or how careful we were, they always seemed to be one step behind. It was like they could smell us, sense our every move.We didn’t speak about it much, but the tension was there, hanging heavy in the air between us. Arthur was always on edge, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his knife. And me? I felt like I was constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for something to jump out of the shadows.That morning, we were walking through a dense part of the forest. The trees were thick here, their branches so close together that it felt like the sunlight was struggling to get through. Every sound seemed amplified—the crunch of leaves under our boots, the rustle of the wind through the trees. My se
We finally broke free from the thick trees, stepping out onto a dirt road that would eventually lead us back to the city. The forest had been our hiding place for what felt like forever, but now, as the city’s skyline loomed in the distance, all I felt was relief. The glow of the streetlights and the faint hum of traffic were a reminder of the world we left behind days ago.“We made it,” Arthur said, his voice strained with exhaustion. His hand was still gripping mine tightly, like he was afraid to let go. It had been our lifeline during this whole nightmare, and right now, it was the only thing keeping me from collapsing. I gave him a small nod, too tired to speak. My legs ached, and my feet throbbed in my sneakers. The past few days had been a blur of running and hiding from Vladimir’s assassins. They had been on our trail nonstop, hunting us like animals. But somehow, we had survived. Arthur glanced at me, concern written all over his face. “How are you holding up?”“I’m fine,”
Everything felt off. Even though we were back in the city, the tension hadn’t eased. In fact, it had gotten worse. Every shadow seemed to move, every sound felt like a warning. Arthur and I couldn’t relax. We were always looking over our shoulders, waiting for something bad to happen. The last few days had been a blur. We barely had time to catch our breath after escaping the forest. Vladimir had already sent his assassins after us once, and now we were back in the city, knowing full well he wasn’t going to stop. The man was ruthless, and he wanted Arthur gone.We holed up in the small apartment Arthur’s friend let us stay in. It wasn’t much, but it was safe. For now, anyway. The apartment was plain, with a couch and a small table, but the important part was that it wasn’t our place. Vladimir wouldn’t know where to find us here. At least, that’s what I hoped.But the fear never left me. Every time I heard a noise outside the door, my heart would start pounding. I kept thinking back t
It hit me like a wave—a slow, creeping realization that didn’t make sense at first, but then everything suddenly clicked. The nausea, the exhaustion, the weird cravings… and the missed period. I sat there, staring at the little test in my hand, the two lines clear as day. Pregnant.I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, just staring, but it felt like time had frozen. My heart was racing, and a hundred thoughts were running through my head. I wasn’t ready for this, was I? I mean, Arthur and I had been through so much already—fighting assassins, dodging Vladimir’s endless schemes, and barely managing to stay alive some days. And now… a baby?The front door creaked open, and I quickly shoved the test into my bag. Arthur walked in, his eyes immediately locking onto me. He was always so attuned to everything I did, like he could read my emotions even before I knew what I was feeling. Today was no different.“Morgan?” he asked, his voice full of concern. “Are you okay? You look pale.”I tried
The air felt thick with tension, even though I was sitting in our cozy living room, sunlight streaming through the windows. I could tell something was off the moment Arthur walked in. He didn’t have to say anything—his jaw was clenched, and the way he was pacing made it clear. Something was wrong."Arthur," I called softly from the couch, my hand resting on my small but growing belly. “What is it?”He stopped, turning to look at me. His face was hard, but his eyes softened when they landed on me. Still, I could see the storm brewing behind them. “Vladimir knows,” he said simply, his voice low and tense.I froze. The name alone sent a chill down my spine. “Knows what?”Arthur’s gaze dropped to my belly, and that was all the answer I needed. My hand instinctively tightened around my bump, protectively.“How…?” I asked, though deep down I knew it didn’t matter. Vladimir had eyes everywhere. Of course, he would find out. I just wasn’t ready to face the reality of it.Arthur sat down besid
It was just supposed to be a normal day.I had meetings lined up back-to-back, all centered on the business expansion, the kind of thing that normally took my focus. But ever since Vladimir had started lurking in the shadows, my mind wasn’t where it should be. Even when I was in those boardrooms, listening to presentations, signing off on contracts, my thoughts were somewhere else. My thoughts were with Morgan.I hadn’t wanted to leave her alone, not even for a few hours, but she had insisted. “Arthur, you’ve got work to do. I’m fine. Besides, the security team is here.” Her smile had been soft, reassuring, but it hadn’t eased the knot in my chest.But now, as I sat there in the middle of another meeting, my phone buzzed on the table. I glanced down at it, expecting it to be a routine email or a message from one of my assistants. Instead, my heart stopped.It was a text from one of my security guys.**Morgan is gone.**I didn’t even bother with an explanation. I stood up, ignoring the
I had been locked in this dark room for what felt like hours, maybe even days. The walls were cold and damp, the air heavy and thick with silence. I could hear nothing from the outside, no sound of cars or people, just my own heartbeat drumming in my ears. I had no idea where I was. All I knew was that Vladimir had me, and Arthur wasn’t here to protect me.The fear gnawed at my chest, but I fought against it. I had to stay strong, had to believe that Arthur would come for me. He always did. But right now, that felt so far away. The door creaked open, and my heart raced. I saw Vladimir standing there, his eyes cold and calculating as he stepped into the room. His presence made the air feel even heavier. I backed up until I was pressed against the wall, every instinct telling me to run, even though there was nowhere to go.Vladimir smirked at me, that same sick grin I’d seen before. “You look so scared, Morgan,” he said softly, almost mockingly. “You didn’t think it would come to this,
I had been locked in this dark room for what felt like hours, maybe even days. The walls were cold and damp, the air heavy and thick with silence. I could hear nothing from the outside, no sound of cars or people, just my own heartbeat drumming in my ears. I had no idea where I was. All I knew was that Vladimir had me, and Arthur wasn’t here to protect me. The fear gnawed at my chest, but I fought against it. I had to stay strong, had to believe that Arthur would come for me. He always did. But right now, that felt so far away. The door creaked open, and my heart raced. I saw Vladimir standing there, his eyes cold and calculating as he stepped into the room. His presence made the air feel even heavier. I backed up until I was pressed against the wall, every instinct telling me to run, even though there was nowhere to go. Vladimir smirked at me, that same sick grin I’d seen before. “You look so scared, Morgan,” he said softly, almost mockingly. “You didn’t think it would come to
Sage arrived unannounced, her presence instantly changing the atmosphere in our home. I had never met her before, but I knew of her. Arthur had spoken of her a few times, in that casual way you mention an old friend from childhood who had drifted away over the years. But now, seeing her in person, I could feel something wasn’t right. She didn’t come here just to catch up.She was beautiful, of course. The kind of beauty that seemed effortless—sleek dark hair, sharp green eyes, and a certain confidence that came with knowing you could get what you wanted. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t just here to say hello.Arthur greeted her with the usual politeness, but I could sense the awkwardness in the way he stood, the slight stiffness in his movements. He didn’t seem thrilled to see her, and I wondered why.Sage smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Arthur,” she said smoothly, “it’s been too long.”Arthur nodded, stepping back to let her inside. “Yeah, it has,” he replied, his
When the police arrived and dragged Vladimir away, I could barely stand. My legs felt unsteady, and I leaned against the nearest wall, my mind spinning. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling at that moment—relief, exhaustion, or just pure shock. But I was safe, and that’s all that mattered now.Arthur was beside me in seconds, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. His face was tense, and I could see the worry in his eyes, but his presence helped calm the whirlwind in my head.“Are you okay?” he asked quietly, his voice rough from the earlier fight. He had never looked so worn out, but there was a softness in the way he looked at me that made me feel a little more grounded.I nodded, not trusting myself to say much. The events of the night were still swirling in my head, and my body ached from the struggle. Vladimir’s twisted words echoed in my mind, but I shook them off. He was gone now, arrested, and wouldn’t hurt me again. At least, not physically.Arthur wrapped his arm around me, pul
I had been locked in this dark room for what felt like hours, maybe even days. The walls were cold and damp, the air heavy and thick with silence. I could hear nothing from the outside, no sound of cars or people, just my own heartbeat drumming in my ears. I had no idea where I was. All I knew was that Vladimir had me, and Arthur wasn’t here to protect me. The fear gnawed at my chest, but I fought against it. I had to stay strong, had to believe that Arthur would come for me. He always did. But right now, that felt so far away. The door creaked open, and my heart raced. I saw Vladimir standing there, his eyes cold and calculating as he stepped into the room. His presence made the air feel even heavier. I backed up until I was pressed against the wall, every instinct telling me to run, even though there was nowhere to go. Vladimir smirked at me, that same sick grin I’d seen before. “You look so scared, Morgan,” he said softly, almost mockingly. “You didn’t think it would come to
I had been locked in this dark room for what felt like hours, maybe even days. The walls were cold and damp, the air heavy and thick with silence. I could hear nothing from the outside, no sound of cars or people, just my own heartbeat drumming in my ears. I had no idea where I was. All I knew was that Vladimir had me, and Arthur wasn’t here to protect me.The fear gnawed at my chest, but I fought against it. I had to stay strong, had to believe that Arthur would come for me. He always did. But right now, that felt so far away. The door creaked open, and my heart raced. I saw Vladimir standing there, his eyes cold and calculating as he stepped into the room. His presence made the air feel even heavier. I backed up until I was pressed against the wall, every instinct telling me to run, even though there was nowhere to go.Vladimir smirked at me, that same sick grin I’d seen before. “You look so scared, Morgan,” he said softly, almost mockingly. “You didn’t think it would come to this,
It was just supposed to be a normal day.I had meetings lined up back-to-back, all centered on the business expansion, the kind of thing that normally took my focus. But ever since Vladimir had started lurking in the shadows, my mind wasn’t where it should be. Even when I was in those boardrooms, listening to presentations, signing off on contracts, my thoughts were somewhere else. My thoughts were with Morgan.I hadn’t wanted to leave her alone, not even for a few hours, but she had insisted. “Arthur, you’ve got work to do. I’m fine. Besides, the security team is here.” Her smile had been soft, reassuring, but it hadn’t eased the knot in my chest.But now, as I sat there in the middle of another meeting, my phone buzzed on the table. I glanced down at it, expecting it to be a routine email or a message from one of my assistants. Instead, my heart stopped.It was a text from one of my security guys.**Morgan is gone.**I didn’t even bother with an explanation. I stood up, ignoring the
The air felt thick with tension, even though I was sitting in our cozy living room, sunlight streaming through the windows. I could tell something was off the moment Arthur walked in. He didn’t have to say anything—his jaw was clenched, and the way he was pacing made it clear. Something was wrong."Arthur," I called softly from the couch, my hand resting on my small but growing belly. “What is it?”He stopped, turning to look at me. His face was hard, but his eyes softened when they landed on me. Still, I could see the storm brewing behind them. “Vladimir knows,” he said simply, his voice low and tense.I froze. The name alone sent a chill down my spine. “Knows what?”Arthur’s gaze dropped to my belly, and that was all the answer I needed. My hand instinctively tightened around my bump, protectively.“How…?” I asked, though deep down I knew it didn’t matter. Vladimir had eyes everywhere. Of course, he would find out. I just wasn’t ready to face the reality of it.Arthur sat down besid
It hit me like a wave—a slow, creeping realization that didn’t make sense at first, but then everything suddenly clicked. The nausea, the exhaustion, the weird cravings… and the missed period. I sat there, staring at the little test in my hand, the two lines clear as day. Pregnant.I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, just staring, but it felt like time had frozen. My heart was racing, and a hundred thoughts were running through my head. I wasn’t ready for this, was I? I mean, Arthur and I had been through so much already—fighting assassins, dodging Vladimir’s endless schemes, and barely managing to stay alive some days. And now… a baby?The front door creaked open, and I quickly shoved the test into my bag. Arthur walked in, his eyes immediately locking onto me. He was always so attuned to everything I did, like he could read my emotions even before I knew what I was feeling. Today was no different.“Morgan?” he asked, his voice full of concern. “Are you okay? You look pale.”I tried
Everything felt off. Even though we were back in the city, the tension hadn’t eased. In fact, it had gotten worse. Every shadow seemed to move, every sound felt like a warning. Arthur and I couldn’t relax. We were always looking over our shoulders, waiting for something bad to happen. The last few days had been a blur. We barely had time to catch our breath after escaping the forest. Vladimir had already sent his assassins after us once, and now we were back in the city, knowing full well he wasn’t going to stop. The man was ruthless, and he wanted Arthur gone.We holed up in the small apartment Arthur’s friend let us stay in. It wasn’t much, but it was safe. For now, anyway. The apartment was plain, with a couch and a small table, but the important part was that it wasn’t our place. Vladimir wouldn’t know where to find us here. At least, that’s what I hoped.But the fear never left me. Every time I heard a noise outside the door, my heart would start pounding. I kept thinking back t
We finally broke free from the thick trees, stepping out onto a dirt road that would eventually lead us back to the city. The forest had been our hiding place for what felt like forever, but now, as the city’s skyline loomed in the distance, all I felt was relief. The glow of the streetlights and the faint hum of traffic were a reminder of the world we left behind days ago.“We made it,” Arthur said, his voice strained with exhaustion. His hand was still gripping mine tightly, like he was afraid to let go. It had been our lifeline during this whole nightmare, and right now, it was the only thing keeping me from collapsing. I gave him a small nod, too tired to speak. My legs ached, and my feet throbbed in my sneakers. The past few days had been a blur of running and hiding from Vladimir’s assassins. They had been on our trail nonstop, hunting us like animals. But somehow, we had survived. Arthur glanced at me, concern written all over his face. “How are you holding up?”“I’m fine,”