Mr. Jonathan looks back at us, clearing his voice, “Umh…yeah. I meant, as far as I am concerned. My son has a good heart.”We both nod, although I sense something fishy here. I don’t know what it is, but something feels off somehow. “And why is he good with guns?” I ask.“Guns?” He hesitates for a moment, but he portrays nothing more to sell him off. “He had been training since a young age. I mean, bringing him up in this kind of a place, he had to learn the ways of survival, and that was one of the basics.”I see. “He does not look like someone who leaves here. He looks so much more like a city man than a local bush guy. Forgive me, it is just my observations,” Joe says.And he is right. If Jayden’s dressing style is distinct from his father’s, he is neat. And these skinny jeans, seriously? He looks so out of place here.“Well, he has two homes. He lives in the city and comes to visit as often as he can. I could not deny him that kind of life just because I had no interest in it myse
I wake up in Joe’s arms, his steady breath warming my cheek despite the chill of the cave. His arm drapes over me, protective even in his sleep. The cold of the night had been biting, but his warmth had kept it at bay. For the first time in days, I feel a sliver of peace.I tour my eyes around our inhabitant, and my heart sinks the moment I notice something. Mr. Jonathan is nowhere to be seen. Not even his bag of traditional medicines or his weapon. Panic flares in my chest like a match. Where could he have gone? I remember we all dozed off together last except for Jayden.My mind races. Jayden’s unpredictable attitude and Mr. Jonathan’s mysterious behavior still hang heavily over me. What if they have decided they have had enough? And given the way Jayden acted last night, I am not wrong to believe so. Besides, he is Jayden’s father, so of course, he will choose his son over us.Joe stirs slightly, but his face remains serene, his body relaxed in sleep. The pain he has been enduring
I smirk. Then suddenly, I drop my hand. “Unfortunately, you already suggested we scour the forest for more food. I think we should stick to that. Too bad, honey,” I wink and he bites his lower lip, looking away for a second.When our eyes meet again, his are dark but beautiful. They hold this intense look that draws me into their bottoms with a snap. And for a moment, I am lost—lost in his eyes.“As you wish, sugar,” he breaks the sweet moment that I wished would never end, pulling me deeper into the forest.Arggh!"But don’t be so hurt. I will take care of that which you so desire the most, the beautiful queen of my heart,” he tightened his hand around mine, throwing me a wink that carried a deep mischief that caused a ripple of pleasure down my backbone.Ooh, I would like to see how you will do that, Mr. Montana junior. With these wounds that can’t even make you walk properly and your broken arm, how will you do it?We scour the forest together, Joe managing to move despite his inju
I sit on the cold cave floor, watching over Jayden as his breathing steadies. His face is pale, his wounds still fresh, and I can't help but feel a pang of guilt. This web is taking the dimension that I don’t like—catching innocent people who know absolutely nothing about this web of lies and injustice. Not this guy’s stubbornness or his gross attitude warranted him these wounds. But here he is, wounded, because of Joe and me, and fighting a battle that is not his. A battle that he does not know how serious it is.Joe is sprawled a few feet away, leaning against the wall. His sharp eyes never leave me, though he is trying to hide it. This one, sha!The tension between them is suffocating, and the silence feels like it is going to choke me. Each wants to claim me, to have me. I am afraid, that Joe’s words, which I termed meaningless, are beginning to make sense. I thought it was jealousy; I thought it was him trying to be insecure and overprotective of what is his unnecessarily, but I
Mr. Jonathan studies me for a moment before speaking. "Why is Leon so determined to destroy you? What did you do to him? Is there any truth to the allegations against you?"I stiffen, the question hitting too close to home. "The honest truth is that I am innocent, Mr. Jonathan. I didn't do anything," I say firmly. "He is a liar. He framed me for things he himself did. Not one, not two..." voice falters, the words too heavy to say.Mr. Jonathan nods slowly. "I believe you," he says, and the weight on my chest eases slightly."Thank you. And I am so sorry for getting you and your son involved," I whisper, my voice soft. "I feel so bad that you are also his target now. You have been nothing but a God-sent samaritan to me and Joe. I don't wish to repay you by causing you any harm, Mr. Jonathan, and I am afraid that that is what is happening now."He shakes his head, taking my hand. "This is exactly what I would have wished for anyone to do for my child if they were in your situation, my d
THE BLAMEMy pacing back and forth is growing with every passing second. My heart is throbbing, calling for Joe! I hate it when he does this."Please come back, Joe! Where the heck are you?” I murmur, pressing onto my chest with one hand, my gaze never leaving the entrance of the cave, wishing and hoping that I would see him walk in any second.But the wait is never-ending, and the hope is fading away with each passing second. There is no sight of him anywhere.“You should not worry about a grownup who has chosen to act like a child. That brother of yours needs to grow up.”I turn to that voice, almost colliding with Jayden with a cup of coffee that I don’t take. I don’t need a fucking coffee, nor do I need his stupid opinion. I need Joe. It has been almost an hour since he stormed out. What if... what if...‘No, B. Don’t entertain that thought.’ My brain screams to me.“I went through the trouble of making it for you. Please,” Jayden pleads, still handing me the steaming coffee.He w
The forest is alive with the sounds of night creatures, but the world around us feels silent, as if it is holding its breath for us. Joe’s eyes burn into mine, a storm of emotions swirling within them—love, desire, jealousy, and need. His thumb brushes my cheek as he leans in, his lips finding mine again. This time, the kiss is slower, deeper, a sweet torment that sends a shiver racing through me.His hands explore my face, my neck, and my shoulders, each touch deliberate and gentle, as though he’s trying to memorize every inch of me. His lips leave mine, trailing kisses down my jawline, pausing at the sensitive spot just beneath my ear. “You drive me insane, baby. I want to eat you whole, baby,” he murmurs, his voice thick with desire. “Every part of you... Every damn inch you, B… ooh, I can’t get enough.”"Ooh, yes, baby. I am all yours. Eat me whole, baby. Make love to...aahh!" Ooh, sweet shit! Where am I?"Say no more, baby. I am going to fuck you so sweet and hard..."His words s
The world around us has disappeared, and all that remains is the sound of our breathing and the magnetic pull between us. Joe's gaze pierces through me, filled with so much raw intensity that it sends a shiver down my spine. His thumb brushes against my bottom lip, and the simple touch makes me feel like I'm on fire."You have no idea what you do to me," he murmurs, his voice low and gravelly. The way he looks at me makes me feel like the most desired woman alive, and I can't help but lean into his touch."Ooh, yeah? Show me what I do to you, baby!" I groan between the building pleasures.His lips claim mine in a kiss that starts slow, teasing, and impossibly tender. His tongue traces along the seam of my lips, and I part them with a soft sigh, letting him in. The kiss deepens, his tongue sliding against mine in a sensual dance that leaves me breathless. His hands cup my face, his fingers threading through my hair as he tilts my head to kiss me even deeper.Joe's lips leave mine, and
"Not yet, Bella," I turn to Daniel as he speaks. Wait, the last I checked, he was in prison. When and how did he get out? "Your guy here had everything lined up for this grand ending!"Huh?I turn to Joe. "What is he talking about?"Joe takes some papers from his jacket and hands them to me. I take them, and I see Leon's name printed at the top.The only thing I get from the first few lines of the first page states that I will be the sole owner of B&L company from now on. With all the trust I have for Joe, I don't need to keep reading. Whatever he does, he always has my best interests at heart. And it seems he had well prepared for this ending more than I did. This is indeed a good closure. Soon, somehow, I will thank him dearly for all this.I throw the papers at Leon's face. "Sign them," I order, throwing the papers in front of him."What...what are these papers for? There is no way I am signing something without knowing what it is for. Besides, I need my lawyer to go through them f
I nod, my eyes not leaving Leon's as I slap the truth that he has hidden so well. "Yes. His real name is Desmond Erasto! Brother to Officer Jayden.""Officer Jayden?" Three voices chorus together, and if there is one person who is about to pee on his pants upon hearing of that name, it is this fool."Yes!" I affirm, making sure my next words drill straight to Leon. "Thanks to you, Leon or Desmond or whatever your fucking name is. Your brother is now a police officer, and guess why he became one? To seek justice for his beautiful mother, whom you killed!""Shut the fuck up!"Ooh, the jerk has the energy, the roar, huh? He looks like he would slit my throat with his claws right this second if he could. Truth indeed really hurts, right? He has hidden behind this mask for years; he has carried the guilt for years, yet he cannot face the truth."Killed? You mean the attempt on our lives was not the first murder he had attempted? He had killed before?" Joe can't believe what is happening."
The car stops in front of the strange abandoned building after a long, silent twenty-minute drive. I glance at Joe's wristwatch-it reads a quarter to midnight. The place is eerily quiet, as if no living soul has been near this mansion in decades. Or maybe ever. There is nothing else around. Just this massive, eerie structure staring back at us like it has secrets to hide. Or maybe it indeed has, if otherwise, why are we here in the middle of the night? Why did he decide to bring me here instead of taking me back to the house where I am urgently needed?"Where are we? What are we doing here?" I ask, my voice low and cautious. The silence of the place feels suffocating, like even the air is afraid to move.Joe does not answer. He does not even look at me. His eyes remain locked on the tall, shadowy building ahead. His eyes not flickering even once."What is inside that house?" I whisper again, my heart thudding harder with each second he stays quiet."Let's find out," he says, his voice
The drive has been deadly silent. The night feels as if it is closing in on me. Joe does not look happy with me at all, or at least, he is not okay. He had been avoiding looking my way ever since we got into this car half an hour ago. I want to talk to him so badly because I understand that I fucked up by leaving him in the dark and following my crazy ideas. And I know that hurt him so badly. That was his ego that I touched by trusting Jayden over him.I was about to speak when my phone buzzed on my lap, and I grabbed it fast, checking the message.It is from Jayden. 'I now accept that I will never have a place in your heart. It hurts, but I have to accept it. Thank you for the time that I spent with you. I will never forget that because they are worth keeping. You were right. It is best if we go our separate ways. I may have lost you, but I still have that one drive-justice for my mother. That will keep me going. Good luck to whoever gets to our target first!!!' Yours, Jayden.Shit!
“I thought she was totally disconnected from us. I am glad that she is still with us,” Joe says, a small smile playing on his lips.This feels so overwhelming! We have a new hope, and this can never feel any good. As if pulled by a certain force, I move closer, sealing the gap between us, and I reach for his lips, kissing him gently, a kiss of assurance. He does not waste time but captures my lips, returning the kiss with the same gentleness and passion.Jayden clears his throat from behind me, reminding us that we are not in our own world as we thought. Unwillingly, we break the kiss, and we take a moment to just admire each other, again, forgetting that there is someone else in the room.“We should start heading home. We don’t know when Father will be awake,” Joe says, and I nod my head.“Well, excuse me, here!” Jayden speaks, making us turn to him. He looks pissed, and his looks speak of disapproval.“Mr. Man, what is she now, huh? Something you can control the way you want? Are yo
I take a shaky breath, the weight of the room pressing down on me like a storm ready to explode. My eyes dart between Joe and Jayden, their standoff pulling me into a whirlpool of confusion and dread. Every nerve in my body feels raw, screaming with fear. Things never end well whenever these two clash. I hid from Joe and ran off with Jayden, and I could see the anger and suspicion in Joe’s eyes, which made today’s encounter feel even worse.Joe’s eyes burn into mine, searching for answers I can’t give him right now. His presence feels overwhelming, his possessiveness like chains tightening around me. Jayden stands tall, his calm demeanor barely masking the fire beneath. He has always been the rational one, the protector, but now he is as much a threat to my fragile sanity as Joe is.“Joe,” I finally manage to whisper, my voice trembling. “What are you doing here? How did you…”“How did I find you two?” He cuts me off, his voice calm but harsh. “Of all the things you could do, Bella, y
I pace back and forth in the room, my fists clenched tight at my sides. My mind feels like it is spinning, and actually, it is indeed spinning badly. On one hand, I want to at least grant Jayden this one wish. After everything he has done for me, he deserves it. But how can it deny me the one thing that I can’t let go? Why did he have to ask only for this of all the things? Well, of course, with the exception of loving him. I would have really loved to grant him even just this one wish.But I can’t!My heart is burning crimson with the wrath I feel for that jerk. My desire to seek revenge for what that moron did to me is unquenchable and unstoppable. That is why I had to even run away from my father just so I could achieve this. How can I just drop it like that?“You and I know that Leon is not alone in this, Bella,” Jayden starts again, standing so close to me, his voice soft. “He has people, and you also mentioned that some of the people have other motives to want to hurt you. You c
Jayden’s gaze locks onto mine, and I see something in his eyes that chills me to the bone. His grip on my hand tightens, so hard that it is almost painful. “Because, Bella,” he says, his voice grave, “Desmond Erasto is Leon.”Time seems to stop. The name echoes in my mind, but it doesn’t connect. “What?” I say, my voice barely audible.“Leon,” Jayden repeats. “The man who has caused you so much pain, who took everything from you. The man that you are after is the same man that I have been chasing since I became a police officer.”“No,” I whisper, shaking my head. “That’s not possible. That can’t be true.”“I didn’t know at first either,” Jayden admits. “He has changed his name, his appearance, everything. But the pieces began to fit when I started looking into him after everything he has done to you. The way he operates, his greed, his hunger for power—and on the day that I was attacked in the forest, he was among his goons. We had a gun exchange encounter. I bruised him so close with
The silence stretches to eternity, cutting through the space between us. Jayden looks lost, as if his mind has been triggered. He looks like there is a very painful episode playing in his mind, causing me to walk closer.“Jayden?” I call, but instead of looking at me, he shuts his eyes, pain evident. But pain over what? I just asked a question about this seemingly new character of interest in this story.Why is he triggered like this?“Talk to me, Jayden, please. Who is Desmond Erasto, and what do I have to do with him?” I ask, still sinking into confusion.I lift my head, my heart already pounding. The recent situations have taught me to brace myself for the worst lately, but nothing could prepare me for what he says next.“Desmond Erasto... he is my brother. My long-lost wicked brother!”I blink at him, the words not making sense. Actually, I am drawn into more confusion here. He has a brother? “Your brother?”Jayden nods slowly, his eyes clouded with memories. He pulls up two chair