The urgency in Leon’s voice sent a jolt of adrenaline through me, he turned my phone off and destroyed something like chip processor inside. “I’m sorry, I had to destroy it so they couldn’t track your location where we are headed. Now go get your things.”There was no time to process the fear that gripped me. I jumped to my feet, sprinting down the hallway to alert Olivia and Alexa. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.Olivia was in the doorway, her hands shaking as approached us. She looked up in surprise as I said. “We have to go now!” I said, my voice trembling. “They’ve tricked me by tracing our location through a call. They’ll be here any minute from now so we have to leave immediately before they catches us.”Her eyes widened in fear, but she nodded quickly, rushing to grab her things. I dashed to the guest room where Alexa was resting. She was already on her feet, sensing something was wrong. “What’s happening?” she asked, her voice tigh
When Iva finally arrived, I couldn’t help but feel the pit of jealousy deepen. My intuition was right. She was…well, exactly what I feared. Voluptuous curves, a statuesque figure, legs that went on for days, and those eyes—bright, striking green like shards of emeralds. The kind of eyes that demanded attention and never went unnoticed. And her chest? God, I could barely keep myself from glaring at the way her blouse hugged her chest. They were massive. It was ridiculous.‘This’… I thought to myself, feeling a flush creep into my cheeks, ‘this is the kind of woman Leon befriends?’“Prosecutor Iva, thanks for coming.” The moment Leon mentioned her name—Prosecutor Iva Delgado—I felt it.It was like a knot tightening in my stomach, an unspoken tension I couldn't shake off. Why did he say it with that tone, like there was something more? I tried to dismiss the creeping feelings, reminding myself that this was about strategy, not emotions. But when Leon looked me in the eyes and reassu
As Leon held me close, the tension between us remained, unspoken but tangible. I could feel the warmth of his body against mine, his steady heartbeat reverberating through my chest. And yet, the doubt clung to me, whispering insecurities that I couldn’t quite silence. Was I being irrational? Maybe. But rationality had never been a strong suit when emotions were involved.Leon pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine. “You sure you’re okay?” His voice was gentle, almost cautious.I forced another smile, trying to bury the jealousy that was clawing its way to the surface. “Yeah. Just a lot on my mind, I guess.”He nodded, but I could see the flicker of doubt in his gaze. He knew me too well. Still, he didn’t press further, instead offering a soft kiss on my forehead before stepping away. “We should head back inside. There’s still a lot to go over with Iva.”There it was again—her name, like a needle pricking my skin. I nodded, unable to trust myself to speak without betraying my em
After the meeting that night, Leon retreated to his study with Iva to finalize some details, and I could hear the low hum of their voices through the door. Alexa had gone to bed earlier.My body was restless, my thoughts loud and chaotic but sleep was the furthest thing from my mind. The door to Leon’s study creaked open, and I quickly straightened up, trying to appear as though I hadn’t been obsessing over whatever they had talked about. Leon stepped out first, rubbing the back of his neck, looking tired. Iva followed close behind, her sharp eyes landing on me briefly before flickering away.“We’ve made some progress,” Leon said, his voice a little hoarse from hours of talking. “Iva’s going to meet with the judge tomorrow to present our case.”Iva gave me a quick, tight smile. “It’s a long shot, but if we can push the timeline forward, we might be able to stop Justin from making any advantages against you regarding the lawsuit.”Leon’s eyes were on me, watching for a reaction. I nod
The courtroom had an oppressive air, thick with tension as I stepped inside. The scent of polished wood and the low murmur of voices filled the space. I adjusted my blazer, feeling its tightness around my shoulders—a physical reminder of the weight I carried today. Attorney Jack Sanchez greeted me with a firm handshake, his presence calm but commanding. He was tall, with salt-and-pepper hair and sharp eyes that held a glint of reassurance. I had never met him before today, but knowing that Leon trusted him enough to volunteer for my case gave me some comfort."Margarette," Jack said, his voice steady. "Leon’s told me a lot about you. We’re going to get through this. I’ve looked over the evidence, and we have a strong case.""Thank you," I managed, my throat tight with nerves. "I appreciate you being here."He smiled, but it was professional—a man who knew the battle we were walking into. As Jack headed inside the courtroom to get things ready, I felt a presence beside me. Iva, who ha
As the day wore on, I could feel the weight of the courtroom pressing down on me. The courtroom felt like a war zone—each word a bullet, each testimony a weapon drawn. I could feel every breath, every heartbeat echoing in the heavy silence as Justin sat on the witness stand, still smug despite the damning evidence we had. The smell of leather and old wood filled my nose, and the harsh fluorescent lights above cast long shadows across the room.Iva sat next to me, a quiet but strong presence, her green eyes sharp as she watched every move Justin made. Despite her support, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that gnawed at me, that sense of doubt and jealousy from before. But right now, I had to bury that. This wasn’t about Iva or my insecurities. This was about justice—for me, for my family and the people who had been affected by it.Justin leaned back in his chair, casually, as if this was just another day at his office, not a court case that could send him to prison. His arrogance
The courtroom buzzed with tension as the judge called for a recess. I stood, my legs shaky beneath me, and made my way toward the hallway. I needed air. I needed space to think.As I pushed through the doors, I felt a hand on my arm. I turned, expecting to see Leon, but instead found Iva standing there, her expression unreadable."Margarette," she said softly, her voice cutting through the chaos of my thoughts, "you did great today."I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I believed her. “It’s not over yet.”“No,” she agreed, “but you held your own. That’s what matters.”I forced a smile, trying to push the jealousy down again. “Thanks, Iva.”She hesitated, as if she wanted to say something more, but before she could, the doors swung open and Jack emerged, his face grim.“We need to talk, Ms. Margarette” he said, his voice low. “There’s been a development.”I stared at Jack, his expression heavy with something more than just the weariness of the courtroom. My heart picked up speed, my mind
The courtroom air was thick with tension as Laura Oviedo took the stand. I could already feel the anger bubbling up in my chest before she even opened her mouth. She was Justin's last-ditch effort, his final weapon to tear me down. I had known it was coming, but nothing could have prepared me for the lies that were about to spill from her mouth.Laura sat there, calm and collected, a perfect picture of false sincerity. Her eyes flicked toward me, cold and calculating, and then she began to speak."Miss Margarette was never satisfied with the life Justin provided for her," Laura said, her voice steady and dripping with false concern. "She was always spending money on extravagant things, taking trips, buying expensive clothes. And... well, she often took items from Madam Victoria’s personal collection. Jewelry, mostly."My fists clenched so hard my nails bit into my palms. Jewelry? She was accusing me of stealing jewelry? I could barely process the absurdity of it. But it wasn’t just th
Gunfire tore through the air, glass raining down around us as we hit the ground. The sharp sound of bullets striking wood and metal sent my heart into a frantic rhythm. Leon grabbed me, shielding my body as we crawled behind the heavy oak desk.“Dorian?” Leon’s voice was sharp, controlled despite the chaos.“I’m fine,” Dorian called from behind a toppled chair. He moved fast, drawing his gun and firing two precise shots toward the broken windows. A pained grunt told us he had hit his mark.Vincent, the smug bastard, was still in his chair, completely unbothered by the attack.“This is cute,” he mused, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “But you should know by now—I never play fair.”Leon turned his gun on him. “Call them off.”Vincent only smiled.I gritted my teeth. “Damn it, Vincent, this isn’t a game! Who the hell is shooting at us?”The door burst open, and three armed men stormed in.Dorian moved first. He lunged at the closest attacker, his blade flashing in the dim light. The m
Darkness swallowed me whole.For a moment, I thought I was dead. The gunshot still rang in my ears, deafening, all-consuming. But then, pain—sharp and searing—bloomed along my side, pulling me back from the abyss. My breath came in ragged gasps as my knees buckled, and I felt myself falling.Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.“Margarette!” Leon’s voice was raw with panic. His hands pressed against my wound, trying to staunch the bleeding. The warmth of my own blood seeped through my clothes, sticky against my skin. Dorian fired, his shot echoing through the cavernous estate.Elise let out a sharp cry, staggering back. But even as she bled, her cruel smile remained. “Not bad,” she whispered, clutching her shoulder where Dorian’s bullet had struck her. “But not enough.”Leon lifted me, his grip firm but desperate. “We need to move. Now.”“No,” I gritted out, fighting through the pain. “We finish this.”Dorian cursed. “Are you insane? You’re bleeding out!”I forced myself to
Gunfire tore through the air, glass raining down around us as we hit the ground. The sharp sound of bullets striking wood and metal sent my heart into a frantic rhythm. Leon grabbed me, shielding my body as we crawled behind the heavy oak desk.“Dorian?” Leon’s voice was sharp, controlled despite the chaos.“I’m fine,” Dorian called from behind a toppled chair. He moved fast, drawing his gun and firing two precise shots toward the broken windows. A pained grunt told us he had hit his mark.Vincent, the smug bastard, was still in his chair, completely unbothered by the attack.“This is cute,” he mused, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “But you should know by now—I never play fair.”Leon turned his gun on him. “Call them off.”Vincent only smiled.I gritted my teeth. “Damn it, Vincent, this isn’t a game! Who the hell is shooting at us?”The door burst open, and three armed men stormed in.Dorian moved first. He lunged at the closest attacker, his blade flashing in the dim light. The m
The safe house felt suffocating, the air thick with unspoken tension. Every second we wasted gave Vincent more time to prepare. More time to strike.I wasn’t going to let that happen.Leon stood by the table, his hands braced against the surface, muscles tight with frustration. Dorian, despite the pain from his injury, sat nearby, flipping a knife between his fingers—a habit he had when deep in thought.“We need a lead,” Leon finally said, his voice low and controlled. “We can’t storm in blind.”I paced near the window, arms crossed. “We do have a lead. This locket.” I held it up, the metal catching the dim light. “Vincent had it for a reason. He wanted me to see it. Why?”Dorian exhaled sharply. “Because he’s playing with you.”I shook my head. “No. There’s more to it. He wouldn’t go through the trouble of planting something from my past just to taunt me. He wants me to remember something.”Leon’s gaze darkened. “Then let’s start at the beginning. The night of the accident.”My throa
The salty night air carried the hum of distant ship engines and the occasional murmur of dock workers. But this wasn’t just a routine shipment—this was a calculated exchange of power, a moment that could unravel everything Elise’s father had hidden for years.I crouched behind a stack of shipping containers with Leon beside me. Dorian’s team was spread out, positioned along the pier, watching, waiting. A dark van was parked near the edge of the dock, its back doors open. Men in suits moved between the van and the cargo, transferring crates that likely held more than just money.Leon’s voice was low in my ear. “Four men on the ground, two near the van. More could be inside.”I nodded, my gaze locked on the crates. “That’s not just cash, Leon. That’s leverage. He wouldn’t move it unless he was running scared.”Dorian’s voice crackled through our earpieces. “We take them now, we risk losing the files. We wait too long, we risk backup showing up.”I made the decision before anyone else co
Dorian smirked. “Relax, lover boy. I’m not saying she’s defenseless—I’m saying we need to be smart about this.”Leon’s glare didn’t waver, but he didn’t argue either. He knew Dorian was right.I exhaled, my fingers tightening around the locket that had started all of this. “So what do we do?”Dorian sighed. “You have two choices: disappear and hope they forget about you… or go after them first.”Leon tensed beside me. “You’re suggesting we take the fight to them?”Dorian shrugged. “Elise’s father had powerful connections. Some of them might scatter now that he’s locked up, but the smart ones? They’ll wait. Watch. See what you do next.”I swallowed hard. “Then we don’t give them time to plan.”Leon turned to me, his expression dark. “You’re sure about this?”I met his gaze. “I didn’t come this far just to hide.”Dorian grinned. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”Alexa shifted uncomfortably. “I wish I had your courage.”I reached for her hand. “You have more than you think.”She gave
The night before our departure, I barely slept. The weight of the locket pressed against my collarbone, a silent reminder that my past was no longer buried—it was clawing its way back to the surface.Leon must have sensed my restlessness because he found me in the kitchen before dawn, staring into my untouched cup of coffee.“You’re thinking too much.”I let out a breathless laugh, shaking my head. “You always say that.”“Because it’s always true.” He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “Second thoughts?”“No,” I said. “Just… doubts. What if I don’t find the answers I’m looking for? What if I’m just chasing ghosts?”Leon studied me for a long moment before stepping closer, his fingers grazing the locket at my neck. “Then we chase them together.”My chest tightened at the quiet intensity in his voice.Before I could respond, Dorian’s voice cut through the stillness. “Time to go.”The drive to the estate was long and silent. Alexa had insisted on coming, despite her injuries. She
The moment Elise’s father whistled, chaos erupted. Gunfire cracked through the air, sending dock workers scattering. Shadows moved between the containers—his men, heavily armed and ready.Leon pulled me behind a stack of crates as bullets ricocheted off the metal. “Dorian, how many?”Dorian’s voice came sharp through the earpiece. “At least eight. They were waiting for you.”I clenched my teeth. Of course, he knew we’d come.Leon checked his ammo. “We need to take them out before he reaches the cargo ship.”I exhaled, steadying my grip on my gun. “Then let’s end this.”Leon moved first, stepping out just long enough to fire three quick shots. A grunt of pain echoed through the night. One down.Dorian’s rifle cracked, taking out another.I kept close to the containers, listening—waiting. A figure rushed toward me. I ducked just as he swung a knife, feeling the blade slice the air above my head.Without hesitation, I drove my elbow into his ribs, twisting his wrist until the knife clatt
The weight of the file in my hands was suffocating. The words blurred together, but the truth was undeniable—my father hadn’t just been a scientist. He had been a test subject. And Elise’s father had orchestrated it all.Leon took the file from me carefully, his jaw tight as he read through the documents. “This wasn’t just research. They were experimenting on people.”Dorian exhaled sharply. “And your father was one of them.”I clenched my fists. “But why? What were they trying to do?”Leon flipped to the last page, scanning the details. His eyes darkened. “Something about genetic resilience. Accelerated healing. They were looking for ways to manipulate biological responses to trauma.”My stomach churned. “You mean… like making people stronger?”“Stronger, faster, immune to certain injuries.” Leon met my gaze, his voice heavy. “Margarette, they weren’t just studying human endurance. They were creating something.”A chill ran down my spine. “Creating what?”Dorian shifted uncomfortably