Leon’s touch was deliberate, every movement sending a ripple of heat through my body. He began by slowly undressing me, his lips never leaving mine, capturing every gasp of breath, every moan, as his hands roamed my skin. His mouth was all-consuming, leaving me breathless, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of his kiss.As my clothes fell away, Leon’s mouth descended to my breasts, his tongue flicking over my nipples before he began to suck, drawing moans from deep within me. Each pull of his lips on my sensitive skin sent waves of pleasure down my spine, making me arch into him, desperate for more.“I see you’re liking this,” Leon murmured against my skin, his voice thick with desire. He continued to suck on my nipples, making them swollen and tender. His hand slipped beneath my panties, his fingers finding my clit with a skillful ease, massaging it in slow, deliberate circles.“You’re making this hard for me, Leon,” I managed to utter, my voice trembling with need.He lifted his hea
The sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom like a gentle reminder of the comfort surrounding me. I stretched lazily, feeling the lingering warmth of the sheets, but something was missing. Leon wasn’t beside me. The bed felt oddly empty without his reassuring presence, and a sense of unease flickered in my chest before I noticed the scent wafting into the room.The rich, savory aroma of sizzling bacon and eggs slowly coaxed me from the last vestiges of sleep. My stomach responded with an insistent growl, urging me to investigate. I blinked against the morning light, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I sat up. The realization that Leon wasn’t in bed was unsettling, but the smell of breakfast guided me, soothing the initial worry. He must be in the kitchen.Curiosity and hunger combined, prompting me to slip out of bed. The cool wooden floor beneath my feet was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the bed, but it helped to clear the fog from my mind. I pad
The drive to the café had been quiet, filled with the comfortable silence that Leon and I had grown accustomed to. It was a peaceful ride, the kind where I could simply enjoy the company without feeling the need to fill the space with words. Yet, underneath that calm exterior, I could sense something different in Leon—a subtle tension that hadn’t been there earlier. He was focused, more so than usual, and it made me wonder what was on his mind.We arrived at the café, a quaint little place tucked away on the outskirts of town. The sign above the door read "Rafael’s Café," and there was a certain charm about it, as if it held years of stories within its walls. As we stepped inside, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, mingling with the quiet chatter of a few patrons.
As soon as Leon left, I headed straight inside and walked through the sterile hallways. Yet, my mind was still on Leon, on the secrets that seemed to be lurking just beneath the surface. But for now, I had to set those thoughts aside. I had to see and check on my cousin, Lena, besides, there was someone else who needed me now, and it was Aunt Lou.As I head inside the recovery room, where Lena had already been transferred since she was already doing good, I found Aunt Lou inside signing some documents that Uncle George would be mailing today for the company back in Anacortes, her expression softening as she raised her head and saw me. Lena was asleep, her breathing steady, and I could see the relief in Aunt Lou’s eyes. It had been a difficult journey, but there were signs that things were finally starting to improve.“How’s she doing?” I asked softly, stepping into the room.Aunt Lou turned to me after staring at Lena for a moment, a smile tugging at her lips. “Better, much better.
The hours stretched on, each minute crawling by as I sat in the cold, sterile waiting area of the hospital. Midnight had long passed, and still, there was no sign of Leon. My uncle George had come by earlier, offering to take me back to his place so I wouldn’t have to wait alone, but I had refused. I couldn’t leave, not without seeing Leon, not without knowing where he was.“I’ll be fine, Uncle George,” I had insisted, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “He said he’d come back soon, and I want to be here when he does.”He had looked at me with concern, his brows knitting together, but eventually, he nodded and left me to wait. Now, as the hours continued to slip away, that confidence was starting to erode, replaced by a gnawing worry that grew stronger with every tick of the clock.I must have dozed off at some point, because the next thing I knew, I was being gently shaken awake. I blinked, disoriented, and looked up to see Letty standing over me, her face a mix of confusion
The rustle of leaves and the distant hum of city life from the park had always been a solace for me. But today, it felt totally different. The weight of everything that had happened—the betrayal, the confusion, and the overwhelming sadness—had finally caught up with me. I sat on the cold bench, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. But it was no use. I could feel my emotions swirling inside me, a tempest that I couldn’t control. Each memory of Leon—his smile, his touch, his laugh—felt like a knife twisting in my heart. How could someone who meant so much to me cause me so much pain? The thought was unbearable, and I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping that when I opened them, this nightmare would be over. But when I heard the faint sound of a car approaching, reality came crashing back. I knew it was Aunt Lou and Uncle George. They must have been worried sick after I disappeared without a word. I didn’t want them to see me like this
The day passed in a blur, with every minute feeling like an eternity. After Leon left, the emptiness in the house seemed to magnify, each quiet moment amplifying the ache in my chest. I hadn’t heard from him since he walked out, and a part of me dreaded the possibility of never hearing from him again. But I had to push those thoughts aside. I had other responsibilities, other things that required my attention.That evening, I found myself at the hospital, helping Aunt Lou keep an eye on Lena in the recovery room. Lena had been through a rough time, and it was the least I could do to be there for her, as well as Aunt Lou. But despite my best efforts to focus on Lena’s well-being, my thoughts kept drifting back to Leon, to the look on his face when I told him to leave. The anger, the hurt, the regret—they all swirled together in a tangled mess that I couldn’t seem to unravel.Aunt Lou must have sensed my unease. As we sat together by Lena’s bedside, she kept glancing at me with a conc
A few days passed, and the emptiness within me grew like a shadow, dark and consuming. Every corner of Aunt Lou’s house seemed to echo with memories of Leon, even though I was the one who ended things. I had expected him to show up, to knock on the door and beg me to take him back, to tell me it was all a mistake. But instead, there was nothing—no calls, no messages, no sign of him at all. It was as if he had vanished from my life as easily as a dream fades in the morning light.Frustration bubbled up inside me, an anger I couldn’t quite place. Why wasn’t he trying to win me back? Did he care so little? The questions spun in my head, growing louder with each passing hour.Finally, the pressure became too much, and I let out a scream, sharp and sudden, piercing the quiet of my room. I hadn’t meant to, but the sound was out before I could stop it. I slumped back on the bed, feeling ridiculous and even more alone than before.There was a knock on my door, and I sat up, startled. I had c
The days following Leon’s proposal felt like a dream—soft, golden, and filled with an unshakable sense of peace. I caught myself staring at the ring on my finger more often than I cared to admit, the weight of it both grounding and exhilarating.We didn’t rush into planning the wedding. Instead, we let ourselves be, relishing in this new phase of our relationship. The world outside our home was still chaotic, filled with unfinished battles and uncertain futures, but in this—in us—there was certainty.One evening, as we lay tangled together on the couch, Leon traced patterns on my bare shoulder, his voice a low murmur against my skin. “Tell me something you’ve never told anyone.”I turned my head to look at him, our faces inches apart. “Something I’ve never told anyone?”He nodded. “Something real.”I swallowed, considering. There were so many pieces of me I’d kept hidden—fears, dreams, scars that hadn’t fully healed. But with Leon, there was no need for walls.“I used to be afraid of
The days at the beach house were fleeting, but they imprinted themselves onto my soul like ink on paper—permanent, unshakable.Leon and I spent our time wrapped in each other, the world outside forgotten. We cooked together, danced in the kitchen barefoot, made love under the moonlight, and talked about everything we had never had the chance to say before.One evening, after a long walk along the shore, we sat on the wooden deck of the house, our legs tangled beneath a thick blanket. The waves hummed in the background, their rhythm as steady as the beating of my heart.Leon turned to me, his fingers tracing circles on my thigh. “What do you want the future to look like, Margarette?”I leaned my head against his shoulder. “This. Just more of this.”He smiled, kissing the top of my head. “No big dreams? No wild ambitions?”I laughed softly. “I think I’ve spent so much of my life chasing things—justice, revenge, security. And now, all I want is peace.”His hand found mine beneath the bla
The days after our engagement were a blur of quiet moments and soft laughter—normalcy in a way I had never truly experienced before. Leon and I settled into a rhythm that felt natural, like we had been doing this forever.One evening, we were sprawled out on the couch, my legs draped over his lap as he absentmindedly traced circles on my ankle. A movie played in the background, but neither of us was paying attention.“You know,” Leon mused, tilting his head toward me, “we should probably start thinking about where we want to live.”I blinked. “What’s wrong with where we live now?”He chuckled. “Nothing, but… don’t you want something that’s ours? A place we choose together?”The idea settled in my chest, warm and unfamiliar. I had always been so focused on surviving that I had never considered what it would mean to truly build something with him.“You already have a place in mind, don’t you?” I narrowed my eyes.He smirked. “Maybe.”I sighed dramatically. “Of course you do. Go on then,
I hated the way he did that.Leaving just enough of an impression to keep me tangled in his web, forcing me to dwell on his words long after he was gone. It was infuriating. And the worst part? A small, treacherous part of me was starting to believe him.I own every part of you.I shook my head, pushing the thought aside.Not if I had anything to say about it.Still, I needed to figure out my next move. Thiago was playing a long game, and I refused to be caught off guard again. If I wanted any chance of slipping out from under his control, I had to think ahead.I grabbed my phone and dialed Lucia.She picked up on the second ring. “Bridgette, finally! I’ve been waiting for you to call.”I exhaled. “Yeah, sorry. Things have been… complicated.”“No kidding.” Lucia lowered her voice. “I did some digging while you were away. The stock for Bermudez Group is still stable, but there are whispers about an internal shake-up. Whatever Thiago’s planning, it’s big.”I frowned. “Define ‘big.’”“Po
The weight of Leon’s words pressed down on me. He just put a price on your head.I had expected retaliation, but a bounty? That was another level of danger entirely.Leon was already moving. He grabbed his coat and checked his gun, his movements controlled but urgent. “We need to leave. Now.”I forced myself to stay calm. “Where are we going?”“Somewhere Nathan’s men won’t find us.”Elise, who had just stepped out of the guest room, paled. “Wait—you’re running?”Leon shot her a sharp look. “We’re regrouping.”I exhaled, my mind racing. “We can’t just disappear. If we run, Nathan will see it as confirmation that we’re a threat. He’ll only push harder.”Leon’s jaw clenched. “And if we stay, you’ll end up with a bullet in your skull.”Elise swallowed. “If Nathan wants her dead, there’s no hiding. He has eyes everywhere.”Leon turned to me. “She’s right. We need to be smart about this.”I hated the idea of leaving, of running, but I wasn’t reckless. If Leon thought we needed to move, I tr
Nathan’s presence sent a wave of cold dread through my veins, but I didn’t let it show.Elise stiffened beside me, her fingers tightening around the stem of her wine glass. She had been careful, meticulous. But somehow, Nathan had still found out.I kept my voice even. “Nathan. You surprised me.”His lips curled into a smirk. “Did I?”Leon’s voice was sharp in my earpiece. “Margarette, if you don’t walk out of there in the next thirty seconds, I’m coming in.”I ignored him.Instead, I tilted my head, keeping my expression carefully neutral. “We were just having a conversation.”Nathan’s gaze flicked to Elise. “I’m sure you were.”Elise swallowed hard but didn’t look away. “Nathan, don’t—”“Don’t what?” He stepped further into the room, his posture relaxed but his presence suffocating. “Don’t remind you where your loyalty should lie?”The tension crackled like static electricity.I knew I had two options: play innocent or go on the offensive.I chose the latter.“You’re worried,” I sai
The ride home from the gala was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Leon’s hand rested on my thigh, his thumb tracing absentminded circles against my skin. It was grounding, a silent reassurance that he was here—that he wasn’t going anywhere.Still, my mind spun.Elise’s warning lingered. If her father suspected something, it meant our window of opportunity was closing.Leon’s voice broke through my thoughts. “You’re thinking too much.”I turned to find him watching me, his eyes dark in the dim car.I sighed. “I can’t help it.”His fingers tightened slightly, his grip firm but gentle. “We’ll figure it out.”I swallowed hard, nodding. “I know.”Silence settled between us again, but this time, it was different. Charged.Maybe it was the adrenaline from the gala, or maybe it was just the way Leon looked at me—like he could see straight through the walls I tried so hard to keep up.By the time we got home, I felt like I was carrying too much inside me—too many thoughts, too many emotions.And L
I woke up to the sound of rain still pattering against the windows. The weight of the blankets was warm, comforting, but it was the presence beside me that truly made me hesitate before opening my eyes.Leon.His arm was draped over my waist, his body pressed against mine as if he belonged there—as if he had always belonged there. I could feel his steady breaths against the back of my neck, the rise and fall of his chest in sync with mine.Last night hadn't been a dream.I swallowed, my heart hammering against my ribs.No more running.Leon stirred behind me, shifting slightly before his arm tightened, pulling me closer. His voice was thick with sleep when he murmured, “You’re awake.”I nodded, but didn’t turn to face him. “Yeah.”A pause. Then, his fingers brushed over my wrist, tracing absent patterns against my skin. “Regrets?”I exhaled slowly. “No.”Another pause.“But I’m terrified.”Leon shifted then, pushing up on one elbow. I felt his gaze on me before I finally turned to mee
Nathan Calloway’s face twisted with rage as he realized the game was over. His men were dropping like flies, either taken down by Dorian’s gunfire or surrendering to the federal agents swarming the street. The blue and red flashes of FBI vehicles painted the alley in sharp, jagged streaks of light.He was cornered.I could see it in his stance—the way his fingers twitched toward his gun, his mind calculating, scrambling for a way out.There wasn’t one.Leon stood beside me, his gun still raised, but his grip relaxed. He had already decided Nathan wasn’t worth another bullet.But I wasn’t so sure.“Looks like you’re out of moves,” I said, stepping forward.Nathan’s sharp gaze cut to me, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes. Not fear. Not regret.Amusement.“You think this is over?” he muttered, shaking his head. Then, slowly, he smiled.A slow, deliberate, knowing smile.The kind that made my stomach clench.Then he turned to Elise.“Elise,” he said smoothly, like we w