I dialed the contact I’d been given. He was supposed to be the best freelance security personnel in the country. Well let’s hope he lives up to the hype now, I thought aloud. “Yes?” his gruff voice cut through the line after a couple of rings. “Am I speaking with Fletcher? I have a little job for
(ARIELLE’S POV.) The air felt cold and the floor underneath me rough to touch. I couldn’t tell how much time had passed since Denzel picked me up. He’d put the blindfold back on. At some point, we’d switched locations. For some reason, he didn’t feel comfortable with the dock. But I could still sme
(ARIELLE'S POV) The figure’s face was obscured because of its posture, but I could sense the fear and vulnerability emanating from them. My heart clenched painfully in terror and desperation. Was that my son? Was Maverick really the one in there? As if watching me even without being in the room,
(JARED'S POV) The docks were a battlefield—cops on one side, Fletcher’s men on the other, weapons drawn. Gunfire erupted as enemies emerged from the shadows, but they were no match for our trained force. I crouched behind a crate, my mind only on Arielle. Was she here? Was she safe? When the gunf
Too many questions. No time for answers. Michael, face grim, asked, “Who do we go after?” I shot him a look, voice cold. “You're seriously asking me that? This is never a question. We're saving Arielle first!” We tore across the water, the engine’s roar drowning out everything else. Oliver’s ma
(ARIELLE’S POV.) I froze in shock at the sound of the gunshot and for moments afterwards, the sound rang in my head, blocking off every other sound. Denzel’s eyes were filled with dark hatred even as he fell into the ocean. And I could imagine that they’d haunt me for a very long time. I tried to
(ARIELLE'S POV) My hopes flew into the bottom of the ocean in that instant. No. No. Not after I’ve come this close, I shook my head in denial and moved over to join him at the steering wheel. “The bastard! He set this thing on the central lock! We’d have to jump,” Dwayne declared and turned ar
(DWAYNE’S POV) I sat in my car for moments after I arrived at Arielle’s house. I started out through the car window quietly, looking at the short flight of steps leading to the entrance door while I thought about the chain of events that had led up to the present. She tried to put up a strong front
(DWAYNE’S POV.) For moments after Arielle spoke I remained silent, clenching and unclenching my fists in fury. I gritted my teeth so hardly they might have turned into fine power under the pressure. Nothing made sense. Jared opened his mouth to speak and closed it. Arielle remained silent herself,
(ARIELLE'S POV) In Flåm, a small town in Norway, I experienced the most peaceful autumn and early winter of my life. When I first arrived with Dwayne, the country was bathed in autumn colors—crisp air, golden leaves, and a quiet stillness that seemed to soften the weight of my soul. Three months p
(ARIELLE'S POV) In Flåm, a small town in Norway, I experienced the most peaceful autumn and early winter of my life. When I first arrived with Dwayne, the country was bathed in autumn colors—crisp air, golden leaves, and a quiet stillness that seemed to soften the weight of my soul. Three months p
(ARIELLE'S POV) In Flåm, a small town in Norway, I experienced the most peaceful autumn and early winter of my life. When I first arrived with Dwayne, the country was bathed in autumn colors—crisp air, golden leaves, and a quiet stillness that seemed to soften the weight of my soul. Three months p
But his expression and his stance didn't change. “I won't leave her. She needs me.” I sighed, feeling helpless. I looked to Mrs Meyers for help, but she didn't look like she could do any better than I was doing, so I decided to try all alone. “Listen to me, Buddy. You're not leaving your precious
(JARED'S POV) I remained in that position, rocking Arielle gently, until her trembling subsided and she fell asleep in my arms. I gently laid her down on the bed, making sure not to disturb her. As I stepped back, the door went open and Mrs Meyers stepped in. “What happened?” She asked, her eyes b
But his expression and his stance didn't change. “I won't leave her. She needs me.” I sighed, feeling helpless. I looked to Mrs Meyers for help, but she didn't look like she could do any better than I was doing, so I decided to try all alone. “Listen to me, Buddy. You're not leaving your precious
(JARED'S POV) I remained in that position, rocking Arielle gently, until her trembling subsided and she fell asleep in my arms. I gently laid her down on the bed, making sure not to disturb her. As I stepped back, the door went open and Mrs Meyers stepped in. “What happened?” She asked, her eyes b
“You’ve been almost non-existent for awhile now,” he began. I remained silent, my eyes still fixed on the empty nothingness before me. “I just thought the longer I waited to tell you this… I’m afraid for you, Arielle. I’m bot saying you won’t survive this. It’s just… You deserve to know the truth