Claimed by a Dangerous Man

Claimed by a Dangerous Man

last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-11
Oleh:  Anne JoyceOn going
Bahasa: English
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34Bab
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"Who did that to you?" His voice pressed, demanding. But I had to shut him down if I wanted to keep myself together. "If you get to keep things from me, then so do I." “If I find out who he is—if I find him…” “I hope you don’t,” I cut in. “Because I’d rather he was already dead.” “I won't be at peace until you see it for yourself. Either his grave, or his death right in front of you.” He inched closer to me, pulling my chin more and more until our faces were very close. “And remember, Leandra ....” His words sounded like a promise. His breathing was so heavy, so determined. “The moment you watch that bastard die, you’ll see me there too.” *** Being my best friend’s delivery girl isn’t exactly my idea of fun. Usually, it’s annoying. But this time? This time, it led me straight to him. He kissed me—this stranger, so alluring that it made me think of him all the time. The scent of his body, his heavy voice, his pierced grey eyes ... it all stayed with me. Haunted me. Drove me crazy. The problem? He wants nothing to do with me. He keeps his distance, tells me to stay away, says I need to forget him. He says he’s a dangerous man. But how do I forget someone who’s already under my skin? How do I let go of the one man who’s already claimed my heart?

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Bab 1

1. Lovesick

I was here, in what’s considered the most dangerous city in the United States. If it weren’t for Kim, there’s no way I’d go through all this trouble, traveling so far just to fetch her damn documents. Damn her scatterbrain for always forgetting important stuff and dragging me into her personal courier service.

Pulling my phone out of my bag, I dialed Kim’s number. I prayed she’d pick up quickly so that the incident that I won’t tell wouldn’t happen again like last time.

“Hey, Leanne, you here already?” she answered on the second ring.

“Now quickly tell me where to go?”

“Grab a cab. I’ll text you the address,” From the tone in which she spoke, I could tell that she was in a hurry for some reason.

“Pray to your God that I always remember that you are my best friend,” I said simply.

“I’ll text you, Leanne.” That was the last word before she unilaterally ended the call. Truly a person who understood gratitude.

Actually, Kim was not really the type of person who is very annoying. She just got sloppy sometimes. However, even though I get a bit annoyed with her sometimes, I still liked her. She was kind and caring, and sometimes acted like she’s my sister. A rich big sister.

But still, I knew whatever Kim was working on had to be important. And her successes always benefited me in one way or another. She was a hotshot reporter, the diamond of her company, and currently chasing a story that she claimed would solidify her reputation (at least in the journalism world).

A text popped up:

From: Kim

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch. 315 Chestnut St, St. Louis..

I showed the address to the cab driver. He gave me a quick nod before starting the car. I silently wondered what kind of news would make Kim want to be sent all the way to this city.

From behind, I heard the sound of police sirens which made my ears a little disturbed. I suddenly looked for the source of the sound and found two police cars chasing a black car.

“Wow,” I muttered. “What’s going on?”

“That’s normal here,” the driver replied casually, clearly overhearing me.

I looked into the rearview mirror on top of the dashboard, and revealed the face of the driver who seemed to think that I was someone who didn’t know the customs of this place. To be fair, he wasn’t wrong.

I arrived at the hotel Kim had mentioned. “Nice choice,” I muttered to myself. This was one of the fanciest hotels I’d ever set foot in. The view was stunning, and the Gateway Arch was practically right next door.

Kim sent me her room number, and I strolled through the lobby, taking in the surroundings as if no one was waiting for my arrival.

I pressed the elevator, the doors opened and I was presented with the sight of a couple making out. They were so into it they didn’t even notice me. Or maybe they didn’t care. I didn’t know if it was just me or if the elevator I was riding felt like it’s taking forever to move. They were still doing their thing, making me deliberately clear my throat rather loudly.

Finally, they stopped. Whether it was because of me or because they ran out of air, I wasn’t sure. Just then, the elevator dinged, and the doors opened to my floor.

“Lovesick,” I quipped with a teasing tone as I passed them.

I had just stepped out of the elevator when someone suddenly shoved me against the wall. Before I could react, he kissed me, hard and unapologetically. With quick movements, the man also took off his black coat, leaving only a plain white t-shirt that clung snugly to his body. I tried to push him off, but he grabbed my wrists, pinning them behind me with a grip that made it impossible to fight back.

Who the hell was this guy, and what the hell was he doing? He kissed me frantically, his left hand rising to shield our faces. I really tried desperately not to open my mouth and let him in.

There were footsteps running past us. His left hand was binding my wrist and it was his right hand that was raised. Moments later, he stopped kisssing my lips, but remained where he was. A few moments later, he finally broke the kiss but didn’t move away. His eyes opened, and I found myself staring into deep, stormy gray irises. Before I could even process what had just happened, he bent down to pick up the documents I had dropped.

“Thank you.”

That was his first and last word before snatching back his black coat and running in the same direction he came from. He left me standing there like an idiot.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the couple from the elevator staring at me.

“Lovesick,” they mocked before strutting away. Damn it—nothing stings more than having your own words thrown back at you.

I tried to ignore them, straightened my clothes that were a little messy due to that stranger’s actions. The scent of his perfume clung to the fabric.

I searched Kim’s room while still thinking about what happened. Who was he? What did he want? Why the hell did he kiss me? And... why was he such a damn good kisser? Focus, Leanne. Get it together. It’s crazy, I didn’t even know anything about him. Except for his voice, his eyes, and the scent of his perfume, I know nothing else.

Kim opened the door quickly. She didn’t even say a word, just snatched the documents from my hands.

“Oho ... I didn’t hear anything like ‘thank you, Leanne, you are the best’,” I quipped and sat down on the couch like I owned the place.

“Thank you, Leanne. I really am. You are the best person I have. But I don’t have much time right now. Please …,” she said as she checked the file I had brought.

“Fine, fine. Did I miss something?”

“Nope. Everything’s here. Perfect. Thanks again, Leanne. You can chill here or go explore. The password is as usual.” Kim grabbed her bag and hugged me. “Wait, something weird happened,” I said, stopping her.

“What?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Why do you smell like men’s cologne?”

Damn!

***

Edited.

170125, Anne Joyce

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JOY🦋
This is really interesting story!
2023-01-17 03:02:24
1
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Anne Joyce
Hey, welcome to my book! I hope you can enjoy this thrilling story of Marco and Leandra ...️
2022-11-22 10:53:26
2
34 Bab
1. Lovesick
I was here, in what’s considered the most dangerous city in the United States. If it weren’t for Kim, there’s no way I’d go through all this trouble, traveling so far just to fetch her damn documents. Damn her scatterbrain for always forgetting important stuff and dragging me into her personal courier service.Pulling my phone out of my bag, I dialed Kim’s number. I prayed she’d pick up quickly so that the incident that I won’t tell wouldn’t happen again like last time.“Hey, Leanne, you here already?” she answered on the second ring.“Now quickly tell me where to go?”“Grab a cab. I’ll text you the address,” From the tone in which she spoke, I could tell that she was in a hurry for some reason.“Pray to your God that I always remember that you are my best friend,” I said simply.“I’ll text you, Leanne.” That was the last word before she unilaterally ended the call. Truly a person who understood gratitude.Actually, Kim was not really the type of person who is very annoying. She just g
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-21
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2. Stay with me, please
After Kim's departure, which was a relief, I decided to wander around for a while. Good thing she was in such a hurry; she didn’t have time to dig into her earlier question. My quick lie about Pedro (our mutual friend) hugging me before his flight had worked. At least in her haste, Kim just believed what I said.It seemed like visiting fun places around here couldn't go wrong. I opened maps, searched for interesting places around here and found Columbus Square Park. Seven minutes away by car. Okay, not too far either. Kim is calling..."For God's sake, what is it again, Kim?" I said in an unusual tone. “I’m so sorry, Leanne… but I need your help again. I grabbed the wrong folder—”“Where is it?” I cut her off. “It’s on the shelf by the TV. I’m really sorry, Leanne,” she mumbled, her voice small.I sighed deeply. I could practically see her pouting like a scolded kid in a timeout. Add her baby-like Asian features—thanks to her dad being Chinese—and her guilt face was almost impossibl
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-21
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3. I'm sorry you got hurt
“No, Isaac. I don’t think she knows who I am. She did it out of kindness.”That deep voice made me regain consciousness. I blinked slowly, only to discover that I was in an unfamiliar room dominated by gray and white. “No. I destroyed the CCTV and kept my gloves on.”I spotted a guy standing with his back to me. He was in jeans paired with a white shirt, its sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Even from here, I could see his toned arms and broad shoulders. Trying to pick up more of his conversation, I stayed as still as possible, ignoring the stinging pain in my shoulder. A thick blanket was tucked up to my neck, and while I was dying to toss it aside, I didn’t want Mr. Handsome over there to realize I was awake. “Let’s just say I’ll be unlucky if it comes to that. You know I always slip past the cops.”Wait—what? Cops? What’s he talking about? Oh no, what if I’m caught up in this? This is a literal nightmare. And what did he just say? “Always slip past the cops”? Does he have a history
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-21
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4. Can you handle a gun?
“Calm down, there's a car following us,” he said. I canceled my intention to look back when he piped up again, “Don’t turn around! Just check the side mirror. I can’t drop you off at the hotel—they’d find you there.”"Who the hell are they? Why are they following us?" I asked, my voice shaking with panic. My heart was racing, and I was gasping for air like I’d just run a marathon."Relax! Just think of them as people who don’t like me,” he replied quickly. He steered the car into a fairly quiet lane. I saw from the rearview mirror that the black sedan was still following this car. "What the he—AHHH!" I screamed as a bullet smashed into the back window, the sharp sound of glass shattering cutting through the air."Unbuckle your seatbelt!" he ordered."For what?!""Drive the car!""I can’t drive with one hand!""Can you handle a gun?""What?! Hell no!""Then drive—"Crack!"Now!"With shaking hands, I unbuckled my seatbelt, and he did the same. We clumsily switched seats as the car swer
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-21
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5. What do you want?
"I need answers," I whispered. I finally looked at him as he turned to face me. "Tell me what’s really going on."He lowered his head, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "I can't tell you. I'm sorry. And now I feel even worse because you've saved me twice.""Then you owe me," I said flatly and quickly. He looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. "Give me an explanation.""Other than that.""I don't want anything else," I retorted, not to be outdone. "Then be prepared for disappointment." The young man replied softly and coldly. "But you promised me."He ruffled his hair and growled, "You've turned my two principles against me." The man let out a long breath. "Fine, just know I’m not some guy with a smooth, problem-free life. I’ve got people chasing me, ready to take me out. You happy now?""I'm not really surprised," I commented in a coldly pretentious tone. Although inwardly I was thinking about what he had done to put his life in danger. The faint sound of a car en
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-22
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6. Kiss me
For a moment, Marco looked caught off guard. But it didn’t last long—he quickly masked it with that annoyingly calm expression of his. “You serious?”“Dead serious,” I shot back, confidence dripping from every word. “Kiss me.”Without any rush—like he did in the elevator earlier—Marco's left hand grabbed my waist to bring me closer, at the same time as his right hand cupped my cheek. I had already closed my eyes when those thin lips touched mine. He didn't do it hastily, gently and carefully as if I was the most fragile creature in the world. I squeezed his coat, trying to prevent Marco from ending the kiss quickly. He was still gently sucking on my lips, and I didn't want to let him go so soon. The reluctance to separate from him was driving me crazy and I wished that Marco would always be near me. His lips movement stopped. I opened my eyes and was greeted by his dark irises. A feeling of deja vu came over me. Marco pulled away from the hug, but not the catch on my cheek. He rubbed
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-22
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7. Get dressed and find a new guy at the party
Three days had passed since the incident and I had never once seen Marco again. However, the memory of him didn't want to leave my head, nor did the pain of the gunshot wound on my left shoulder.Thankfully, the shot only grazed the periphery of the shoulder, no deep tissue, no bones hit. That meant I didn’t need to go to a hospital, which saved me from having to answer awkward questions about how I got shot. And let’s face it, without me saying a word, any doctor would’ve guessed it had something to do with the cafeteria shootout. If that happened, the police would get involved. They’d interrogate me, Marco’s name would definitely come up, and the little “accident” I caused a few days ago would be dug up, too.I'm not safe. I've had almost two run-ins with the police in my day here. And both of them were related to Marco. According to what I heard at his house when he called Isaac, Marco is indeed a suspicious person. Ninety percent of me was convinced that Marco was a bad guy who was
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-22
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8. I'm not a good guy
"Marco?"He froze for a second. That mysterious look of his never seemed to fade. I swear he looked at my exposed waist for a good two seconds, then back at my face.“Leandra ....” His voice floated in the air.I smiled. He remembered me this time. My subconscious had the idea of getting into the elevator, but before my feet had even taken a step, MMy subconscious was already pushing me toward the elevator, but before I could take a step, Marco closed the distance, grabbed my hand, and pulled me out onto the balcony, away from the crowd partying inside."Hey..." I greeted awkwardly. "Didn’t think I’d see you again."What a lie. I spent three days just thinking about when I would see him again."How are you here?" he asked, not looking at me. Both of his hands were holding the bars of the balcony. His gaze wandered far into the unknown.I followed the position of his body. My face was hit by the cold night breeze. "This is a party for Kim's coworker. You know, the friend I called that t
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-23
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9. Have fun
I managed to get through the sex part just fine—at least for Fred—and thank God I didn’t screw things up by accidentally saying Marco’s name. If I had, I can’t even imagine how Fred would’ve felt.My reflection in the bathroom mirror showed someone more confident, fresher, and… happier. Sleeping with Fred helped me stop wallowing over what Marco did to me. It also made me feel less pathetic, like I’d proven to myself that I could kiss (and screw) someone right after Marco decided I was only worth kissing as a transactional debt—something for his gain. And definitely not an emotional gain. My cell phone rang from inside my bag. Absolutely it was Kim."Leanne, where are you?" I could hear her lowering her voice.I leaned against the edge of the bathroom counter. "I'm with someone, no need to worry.""Someone...? Oh...," I was one hundred percent sure she was holding back a giggle. "Alright, have fun!" And with that, she hung up. So unlike her. She’s usually the type to ask a million que
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-27
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10. He's a good guy
At nine in the morning, I was packing my suitcase, getting ready to head back to Chicago. Kim wasn’t coming with me; she’d be staying for another three weeks or so. After that, she’d officially move to Missouri. She’d bring all her stuff once she found a permanent place. Yep, Kim was settling down in Missouri, and we’d officially be living in different cities.I knew it wasn’t going to be easy for either of us, but life moves on, right? My study in Chicago was also coming to an end. Who knows? Maybe I’d end up working in Missouri and reconnecting with Kim. Heck, we might even share a place again someday.“Make sure you don’t leave anything behind,” she said as she grabbed her car keys.I rolled my eyes. “I’m not Kimberly Zhao Chan, you know.”She groaned, half-annoyed, half-laughing. Honestly, what would she do without me always picking up the stuff she forgets everywhere? Hopefully, she’d grow out of her scatterbrained ways soon—it’s not just inconvenient for her but for everyone arou
last updateTerakhir Diperbarui : 2022-11-29
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