MERRY CHRISTMAS DEAREST REBELS! I HOPE I COULD RECEIVE SOME GEMS AS GIFTS FROM YOU ALL. tHANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH :)
The days after Leon’s departure were heavy with tension. William, though visibly more at ease, carried a weight of guilt that I couldn’t ignore. His eyes would linger on me during strategy meetings, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.Letty, ever perceptive, broke the silence as we reviewed maps of our next target zone.“You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world,” she remarked, her tone gentle but probing.I glanced at her and forced a smile. “Just trying to keep everything from falling apart.”“You mean keeping William and Leon from killing each other,” she said with a smirk. “You know, you could just let them fight it out. Might do them both some good.”“Not funny,” I muttered, though a small chuckle escaped despite myself.Her smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. “You miss him, don’t you?”I didn’t respond, but the silence was enough of an answer.That evening, as I prepared for bed, there was a knock at my door. When I opened it, I was
The forest was quiet, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I approached the clearing where Leon had asked to meet. His silhouette stood out against the faint glow of the moon, his hands shoved into his pockets as he waited.“You’re late,” he said when I arrived, his voice laced with mock annoyance.“I had to make sure no one followed me,” I replied, stepping closer.Leon’s expression softened as he studied me. “You’ve been avoiding me.”“I had to,” I admitted, crossing my arms. “The tension between you and William is affecting the entire team. I can’t let personal issues jeopardize what we’re trying to accomplish.”Leon took a step toward me, closing the distance between us. “Is that what this is to you? A personal issue?”His question caught me off guard, and I looked away, unable to meet his gaze.“Margarette,” he said softly, his hand reaching out to tilt my chin up. “You can’t keep running from this.”“I’m not running,” I whispered, though my voice lacked conviction.“Ye
The tension between Leon and William was like a storm cloud looming over everything we did. Every glance, every exchange of words between them felt like a battle waiting to happen.But it wasn’t until our next strategy meeting that the dam finally broke.The meeting room was dimly lit, the sound of rain pattering against the windows. I sat at the head of the table, trying to maintain order as Leon and William debated the next steps in the mission.“It’s too risky to involve her directly,” William argued, his voice rising. “We need to handle this ourselves.”“She’s more than capable,” Leon shot back, leaning forward in his chair. “You’re underestimating her, as usual.”“I’m protecting her!” William slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing in the room. “Something you clearly don’t care about.”Leon stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “Don’t you dare question my intentions. I’ve done more to keep her safe than you ever will.”“Enough!” I shouted, rising to my fe
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the estate. I tried to push the tension from the previous day out of my mind, but the weight of it lingered like an unwanted guest. Leon and William had been avoiding each other—or so I thought.It started in the courtyard again. I had been reviewing plans with Letty when I heard raised voices echoing through the open space. My heart sank; I knew who it was before I even turned the corner.“You think you’re her protector?” Leon’s voice was sharp, dripping with sarcasm. “You’re nothing but an obstacle in her life.”William stood tall, his jaw clenched and his fists at his sides. “At least I don’t hurt her like you do.”I sprinted toward them, panic rising in my chest. “Stop it, both of you!”Neither man looked at me, their focus entirely on each other. Leon took a step forward, his fists curling. “You have no idea what she needs.”“And you do?” William shot back. “You’ve done nothing but make her life more c
The urgency in Leon’s voice pulled me out of my stunned silence. William stepped forward, his stance protective as he looked between Leon and me.“Start from the beginning,” William demanded, his tone sharp.Leon ignored him, his piercing gaze fixed on me. “Margarette, pack what you need. We don’t have time to explain everything.”William’s hand shot out, gripping Leon’s arm. “She’s not going anywhere until you tell us what’s going on.”The tension between them was palpable, a crackling energy that seemed ready to explode. I stepped between them, my arms outstretched to separate them before things escalated.“Enough!” I shouted, my voice breaking through their heated stares. “Both of you need to calm down.”Leon exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve been digging into Justin’s activities since we returned. He’s not just after the properties, Margarette—he’s targeting you personally. That man showing up here tonight? That’s his way of warning you he’s watching.”Willia
I stood frozen on the porch, the ominous glow of the taillights disappearing into the night. My fingers clenched my phone tightly as the message burned into my mind. I couldn’t let fear paralyze me, not now.The door creaked open behind me, and William’s voice broke the silence. “Margarette? What’s going on?”I turned to him, struggling to steady my breathing. “There was a car. Someone sent me a message. They’re watching us.”His expression darkened instantly, his eyes scanning the street. “Get inside. Now.”Inside, I recounted the events to both William and Leon. They exchanged a glance—tense, calculating.“This isn’t just intimidation anymore,” Leon said, pacing the room. “They’re escalating. We need to strike first before they get bolder.”“We’re not going to act recklessly,” William countered. “We need a plan, not some impulsive move that’ll get us all killed.”Leon scoffed. “And sitting around waiting for them to make the next move isn’t reckless? Great strategy, William.”“Enoug
The aftermath of the encounter at the distillery lingered in the air like a storm refusing to break. Leon and William argued as we made our way back to the safe house, their voices rising and clashing like thunder. I sat in the back seat, my hands trembling as I replayed Justin's chilling smirk in my mind.“Why the hell didn’t you stick to the plan?” William barked, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel.Leon shot him a glare from the passenger seat. “The plan changed when she decided to chase Justin. I wasn’t going to stand back and let her get herself killed.”“I don’t need either of you deciding what I can or can’t do!” I snapped, my voice cutting through their argument.Both of them fell silent, their eyes flickering to me in the rearview mirror.“This isn’t about your rivalry or your ego. This is about stopping Justin before he hurts anyone else. If you two can’t work together, then stay out of my way.”Back at the safe house, Leon pulled me aside, his expression gr
The next morning, the events of the previous night weighed heavily on my mind. The envelope with Justin’s chilling message sat on the kitchen counter, a constant reminder of how far he was willing to go.Leon and William had taken shifts patrolling the perimeter, neither willing to leave me unguarded. Their unspoken rivalry was suffocating, but I didn’t have the energy to address it again. Instead, I found myself dialing Aunt Lou’s number, seeking the comfort only she could provide.When I arrived at Aunt Lou’s cozy house, the familiar scent of baked goods and lavender soap filled the air. Lena and Letty were already there, their faces lighting up when they saw me.“Margarette! It’s been ages,” Letty exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.Lena joined in, her smile warm. “You look exhausted. Sit down, we’ll make tea.”Aunt Lou appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. Her sharp eyes immediately noticed the strain on my face. “What’s wrong, dear? You look like you haven
The rain was falling again.It always did on days like this—days that felt like endings.I stood on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the stormy waters of Anacortes, my coat pulled tightly around me, the hood shielding my face from the wind that carried the scent of salt and something older—something like goodbye.Leon stood behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to feel him there. His presence was familiar now, carved into my skin like muscle memory. He’d been my gravity, my storm, my salvation, and my ruin—sometimes all at once.“It’s really over, isn’t it?” I whispered, more to the wind than to him.He didn’t answer right away. His silence was as heavy as the stormclouds above us.“I wanted to fix everything for you,” he said finally, his voice hoarse, like it had been dragged across a battlefield. “I wanted to give you a life that didn’t hurt.”I closed my eyes. The ache in my chest pulsed with every beat of my heart. “You did,” I said. “For a while, you did.”I heard the crunch
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I’m not the same person I was before,” I said, my voice firm, unwavering. “And I’m not walking away this time.”The man’s eyes flickered with a moment of doubt, just enough for me to catch. And then, before I could even register what had happened, Leon moved.Faster than I could blink, Leon was in front of me, his hand grabbing the gun and twisting it out of the man’s grasp. The force of it sent the man stumbling back, but he didn’t go down easily. His bodyguards rushed in, but Leon was already a step ahead, disarming one of them with a swift, calculated move.I stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what I was witnessing. Leon—always so calm, always so careful—was ruthless. He was like a force of nature, determined to protect me at all costs.But the fight wasn’t over yet. The man recovered, his eyes burning with rage. “You really think you’ve won?” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “You’re nothing but a pawn in a game you can’t ev
The sound of boots drew closer, pounding the floor with an urgency that echoed through the cavernous halls of the estate. My heart raced as the reality of what I had just heard crashed into me like a tidal wave. The man who had once been a part of my life—my family’s betrayer, the one who had orchestrated their deaths—stood there, calmly, as if this was just another night for him.Leon’s grip on my hand tightened, but I didn’t let him pull me away. I could feel the air thickening with tension, the walls pressing in as everything I thought I knew began to crumble.The intruders were only moments away.The man—he—smirked, watching us. “You think this will end well? You’ve no idea what you’re up against. My people are everywhere.”I took a step forward, ignoring Leon’s silent plea to retreat. “You killed them. And you thought I would be the next one to fall in line?” My voice was a whisper, but it held a power I hadn’t realized I had. “You were wrong.”The man’s face faltered, just for a
Next Morning at the Estate Archives. The basement was cold and damp, and the air smelled of mildew and secrets. Old boxes lined the walls, labeled in my father’s tidy script. Financial records. Land deeds. Correspondence.Leon sifted through a crate of documents while I dug through another.Then something caught my eye.A faded folder labeled: Project Thornfield.I opened it slowly.Inside were blueprints—plans for development across coastal land that was supposed to be protected forest. There were signatures from multiple board members, including names I recognized.And then, one I didn’t.N. Vallis.Leon leaned over. “You know that name?”I shook my head. “No. But look here—he signed off on the project two weeks before my parents died.”Leon pulled out his phone. “I’ll run a background check.”I kept flipping through the documents—and found something that made my blood run cold.An aerial photo.Of the cliffside. Our property.With a giant red X drawn over the coordinates where my p
THREE WEEKS LATER...The investigation moved faster than I’d expected. With the board fully on our side now, the paper trail unraveled like a thread pulled from an old sweater—each piece of evidence exposing the next. Shell companies. Forged contracts. Witnesses who had remained silent out of fear but were finally coming forward.Still, no one had seen him since the day of the summit. He had vanished without a trace. No flights. No offshore activity. No messages. It was like he’d disappeared into smoke.But Dorian didn’t believe in ghosts. “He’s hiding,” he said as he handed me a thick folder. “And this—this will force him out.”I flipped through the documents. Bank records. A property registered under an alias. Hidden deep in the woods outside of Anacortes. I felt my stomach twist.Leon stepped up behind me, his hand grazing my shoulder. “Let’s pay him a visit.”The cabin was barely more than a shadow tucked between trees. No lights. No car. Just silence and the thrum of insects in t
Sunlight crept cautiously through the cracks in the blinds, casting golden slivers across the hardwood floor of the safe house bedroom. I sat curled up on the edge of the bed, a blanket draped around my shoulders and the journal heavy in my lap. The cover was cracked, worn with age and secrets. My fingers hovered over the first page for what felt like an eternity.Leon was nearby—he hadn’t slept much, either. He stood at the window with a mug of black coffee, watching the world outside with quiet alertness. When I finally opened the journal, he turned slightly but didn’t speak. He knew I needed silence for this.The first entry was dated nearly two decades ago.July 14th. We signed the contract today. Two families, one future. The woman from Delmar Holdings is more cunning than I expected. She knows we’re desperate—and she used it. I told Mariana to trust me. That this was the only way. God help me, I hope I’m right.My breath hitched. Mariana—that was my mother’s name.I flipped thro
MARGARETTE'S POVBefore we could react, the door behind us burst open.Three armed men rushed in, dressed in black, their movements precise and rehearsed. Leon shoved me behind him, drawing his gun up in an instant. Dorian, who had been lingering near the entrance, took cover behind a cabinet, gun already out.“Elise’s father wasn’t bluffing,” I breathed, my heart hammering. “He had backup ready.”Leon fired the first shot, catching one of the intruders in the shoulder and sending him crashing to the floor. Chaos erupted. Dorian ducked low and returned fire, narrowly missing another attacker who retaliated with a spray of bullets that shattered the windows.I crouched behind an overturned table, the sound of gunfire drowning out my thoughts. The locket in my palm dug into my skin, its edges sharp—a painful reminder that I couldn’t afford to lose control now.“Elise’s father!” I shouted to Leon. “He’s escaping!”Through the haze of smoke and broken glass, I saw the man slinking toward
The sound of footsteps pounding in the hallway was the last thing I heard before the door slammed open.I barely had time to react before a rush of armed men poured into the room, their eyes scanning every corner, landing finally on me. There was no mistaking the intent behind their cold stares.“Get down!” Leon’s voice crackled through the earpiece again, but there was no time to obey. I couldn’t allow myself to hesitate—not now, not when the truth was within reach.I raised my gun, my hands steady despite the chaos unfolding around me. I wasn’t going down without a fight, not after everything I had lost. Not after everything Elise’s father had taken from me.Before the first man could react, I fired. The sound of the shot echoed in the confined space, the bullet finding its mark in the man’s chest. His body crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud, but the others didn’t hesitate. They moved in faster, their guns drawn, but I was ready.I ducked behind the desk, using it as cover
Dawn came in silver slivers through the cracks in the window. I hadn’t slept—not really. My mind was too loud, looping the footage over and over like a broken reel.Leon sat across from me at the table, sipping his coffee like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Neither of us had said much since the footage. We didn’t need to. The truth had cut so deep, it didn’t leave room for small talk.But I had questions.And I needed answers.“How long do you think he’s known I survived?” I finally asked, voice hoarse.Leon didn’t look away from his mug. “Long enough to start covering his tracks. But he didn’t expect the locket to resurface.”My hand instinctively reached for it. The locket was warm now, like it had absorbed my grief and fury. Inside was a picture of my mother and me—her arm around my tiny shoulders, her smile soft but tired. A photo I hadn’t even remembered until last night.“He killed her,” I whispered. “He killed my father. For what? A project?”“Not just a project,”