"Where are the others?" I asked in a slightly hoarse voice, the woman in front of me was wearing a black t-shirt, pants and boots. A gun tucked into her belt along with two knives. She wore a black leather sash that resembled a belt over her shoulders, peeking over her shoulder.Her face and appearance look so … mismatched. With a face like hers, she is suited to wearing dresses and high heels, makeup and diamonds, like other normal women in this city.But it wasn't the weapon or her odd appearance that caught my attention the most, it was her pale bluish-gray eyes that stunned me the most, for a few seconds.She wasn't even looking at me at all. I've seen eyes as clear as the woman in front of me, my eyes drifting to her bleeding arm and then back to her face."The others are outside?" I asked again after she did not answer my first question. She returned her clean knife to the cover. Then tilts her head towards the door without even looking at me and walks out.For the first time a
Paul Sedgewick doesn't look like a typical government intelligence staff member. His short stature goes well with his round face and friendly smile, making him look more like a restaurant chef than an ex-intelligence staff member. His partially graying hair and beard don't have the intimidating effect he hoped for at all."Ah, Luke. Just got back from your vacation, huh?" He adjusted his glasses that slipped off his nose and smiled.He always refers to my kidnapping as a vacation, his private joke. I leaned against the closed door, staring at him as he packed his bag."I didn't see the usual rescuer," I said, furrowing my brow at him. I folded my arms and took a sharp breath when my hand accidentally touched my broken rib."We've decided to terminate our contract with their agency. Mr. Oswealth thinks hiring fifteen people just to rescue you every time is... wasteful. You know we pay enough for each rescue mission. They charge twice my salary for a single job, with your frequent vacat
Humbert Bale was a classic enthusiast, from music, watches, clothes to his torture tools. He was a 41-year-old man with no family. Paul had gathered some information on him.We walked through a dark hallway towards a large room lit only by a lamp in the center. I think we were in a warehouse this time. He had prepared a chair for me, and a table of neatly arranged tools stood not far from it.Humbert walked in front of me humming a classical tune, his large body slowing his steps. They tied me to the chair and pulled my hair up to make me look up. Humbert smiled widely like a kid ready to open his present.I tried to wipe all expression off my face, thinking that the woman would be here in 17 hours. At least this time, I had to get her name.Humbert pointed to his collection of tools on the table, his hands moving to decide which one to use first.I knew this sick man's favorite instrument, he liked his extractor. It was a tang-shaped tool made of stainless steel, used of course, to p
Humbert Bale ordered his two henchmen to guard the door.He quickly took off his plastic coat and pulled out his phone, walking away from me towards another door muttering angrily.I tried to pull at my restraints with my still weak hands, unsure who could be coming at this moment as Paul was only supposed to realise I was missing tomorrow morning.Two gunshots echoed through the door followed by a cry of pain. Damn it. With a queasy stomach and weakened body, I pulled at my binds.My focus was on the door opposite me.Waiting for whoever would emerge from behind it.Black smoke slowly seeped through the cracks in the door, likely from the fire outside. My heart raced faster as the handle turned. A silhouette entered the warehouse along with the thick smoke.Of course, from the feminine silhouette, I could already guess who it was. I couldn't help the corners of my mouth from tugging upwards as she stepped in and paused, our eyes locking in a stare.She tilted her pretty face slightly
Chapter 97: Crossfire"What's wrong?" I asked as I turned my body towards her.With a pained expression, she looked at me icily. Her right hand still held her gun, while her left hand was pressed against her shoulder. Blood oozed out from between her fingers.She swore under her breath and took a step forward. My hand pressed against her back, helping her to lean against the wall. "We have to go to the hospital," I said as I pulled her past the door.She took a deep breath and winced in pain. "I can handle it. Your car's out front-""We need to go to the hospital," I repeated, leading her through the dark hallway."No hospital." Her accent was clear and followed by irritation.I understood. She couldn't go to the hospital. Maybe, she was afraid her identity would be in the hospital database which could attract the police's attention. I didn't know this woman, but she could be an international assassin or a criminal. I nodded my head and said, "I know a surgeon. We don't have to go to t
I took a deep breath to steady myself, then stepped out of the bathtub to grab some bandages from the cabinet.Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I saw that blood had soaked nearly the entire white shirt on my hands. Even a few drops on my face were visible.I looked like Dexter, freshly mutilated a victim.I grabbed two boxes of bandages and adhesive tape, as well as a new pair of scissors, and headed back to her. Alice still hadn't opened her eyes.A sense of panic crept over me. Could she have bled to death?Kneeling beside her, I opened the bandages. I took a towel that was slightly stained with blood from her shoulder and was shocked when I looked at it. The wound on her shoulder was already closed.I blinked a few times, but I couldn't see the wound gaping anymore. There was only a slight wound that didn't look like a gunshot wound at all. I stared at it for a minute, hoping it would suddenly open again.Did Humbert hit me in the head earlier?Why was I only focused on gett
"So, where do I need to drop you off?" I asked as Alice was busy strapping her katana belt on her shoulder.Alice glanced at me for a moment, this time she smiled, a genuine smile at me. For a moment, I couldn't take my eyes off her face. Alice turned around and walked towards the basement exit door. I blinked, looking at her back as she walked away, "Alice, wait-"I walked out of my car while cursing as Alice walked faster."Alice!"But she didn't stop or even look back. I ran after her while she disappeared from behind the basement exit door. The sound of cars and honking greeted me on the street. But she was gone. There were only a few pedestrians, and none of them carried a samurai sword on their back. I stood there for five full minutes looking at the entire street around my apartment, but she disappeared into thin air.I smiled to myself and walked back into the basement. At least this time I knew her name.***For a week, the Crossfire Tracking Device had kept me busy with its f
Two full days...For forty-eight hours, I tried to find out and track his whereabouts. But there wasn't a single clue leading to him. I had checked everything related to him, even asking for Dean's help to track him. After finding the initials left in his encryption program, I decided to postpone the first CTD launch for a week.Tonight is the Crossfire Inc. charity night. An annual event held to raise charitable funds that will later be distributed to various charity organizations owned by Crossfire Inc.As the CEO, I have to attend it with Mr. Oswealth, who is the organizer. This is the only upscale social event that I regularly attend.Or rather, I am obliged to attend.I don't mind events like this, except for the first two hours. Socializing with the upper class is not my favorite job. Their conversations always revolve around money, sports cars, botox, gossip, and other things that almost make me think that spending time with Humbert Bale would be better."Mr. Lancaster!" a scree
My body shivered with desire at the sound of Nick's sharp voice. He grabbed my hair and pulled me back onto the bed, facing him again.His blue eyes gleamed with lust, but I'm sure my own eyes looked just as desperate.One of his hands gripped my shirt. "I'm sorry if I ruin your clothes, Eleanor," he murmured, his voice strained. I wanted to laugh, my husband was still apologizing in a situation like this. The ticklish feeling disappeared quickly as he pulled off my shirt, scattering it around me.He undressed me until I was left in just my bra and panties. His satisfied gaze on my body only fueled the fire within me. The air in the room felt thin. No matter how hard my lungs worked, I couldn't breathe normally.He lowered his face and kissed me passionately, while one hand slipped around to my back to unhook my bra. In an instant, my bra was thrown to the corner of the room, and his warm, large hands cupped my breasts.The sensation of his touch sent waves of pleasure throughout my b
I'm not sure how much time has passed. After our last conversation, Dostov said he would check on Lana and the others downstairs because he was afraid the blood cleansing process wasn't finished, so he asked me to wait in his apartment.Our previous conversation kept repeating in my head. But no matter how frustrated and worried I am now, in the end, Dostov's words are the ones that prevail in my mind. I can't change the future, even if I were to know it. All I can do is hope and pray that what Dostov saw won't happen in the future.Suddenly, the door to Dostov's apartment opens again. But it's Nick's face that appears behind it. I stand up to greet him, but both of us freeze upon realizing something. His previously warm gaze turns cold instantly. "Eleanor... Why do I smell Alastair's blood on you?" he asks as he takes a step closer to me.Damn, I forgot about Alastair's blood."Nick, I didn't realize the blood I drank was Alastair's," I explain, stepping back to distance myself from
They stared at each other for a few minutes, silently."Whose blood is it?" I asked, hoping to hear his answer.He grimaced again. "Nicholas will be later. But right now, there's nothing more effective than Volder Ella's blood."I couldn't help but feel familiar with that scent, my body already recognizing it without Dostov confirming it. Nicholas will definitely be furious later. "Ugh, Dostov," I grumbled, closing my eyes in frustration."Don't worry, he won't be mad at you. Plus, by tonight, Alastair's scent on you will fade away... with Nicholas." He sighed and shifted his gaze to the bookshelf in the room.I glared at him and sighed. His intention was good, to free me from the torment of blood lust as soon as possible, but I was still annoyed because he didn't warn me earlier. "Are you better now? Do you want blood again?" I replied curtly."Not blood again, just another blood. Not Alastair's blood," he mumbled, still looking slightly guilty with his college kid face. The frustrat
Carleon's anger and terror were evident as he whispered in disbelief, "No, Dostov, you promised me!" He tried to stand up, but Nick pushed him back down with his foot, causing him to fall by Dostov's feet again. "Carleon, consider this as you redeeming yourself for your sins all this time," Dostov said calmly. "Isn't now the right time to make amends for everything?" He whispered softly, looking down at the side of his foot. "Vlad will retaliate against you!" Carleon shouted in anger. Dostov stared at him expressionlessly. "Haven't you realized yet? Vlad has abandoned you. He knows about your plan to form your own clan. Isn't that why you were looking for the newborn Valkyrie? To gather power and break free from Vlad?" "No..." Carleon shook his head. "Dostov... You've set me up." His voice sounded shocked and trembling. Nick, who had been observing Carleon, now looked up in surprise at Dostov. "Nicholas, you should take him away. Gregory and Lana must be waiting," Dostov continue
I didn't have time to see what happened next because Volder pulled me and slammed me onto the carpet, causing my back to hit the floor hard. I quickly rolled to the side to avoid his black hands and long nails that were about to slash me.I stood up and approached the baby doll with one hand while Volder, the man in front of me, hissed angrily. He lunged at me, aiming for the baby doll I was holding, but once again I managed to dodge him. I couldn't see where I was going because all my focus was on Volder in front of me, but the sounds around me were chaotic."Don't you dare touch me," I hissed angrily, showing my own fangs. Volder smirked mockingly and lunged towards me. I tried to dodge him again, but one of his hands managed to grab my long hair and yank it forcefully, pulling my body towards him. I tried to fight back with one hand, but he yanked my hair down again and slammed his knee into my head with great force.He threw me to the floor again and reached for the bundle I was h
Chapter 132 It felt like a wave of icy water washed over my body as I heard Carleon's last question. Carleon. Nick and I looked at Dostov simultaneously, who still appeared calm. Dostov was the one who spread those rumors? I thought with horror, but Alice had said that Dostov wasn't the one responsible. On the other hand, Nick just observed both of them, even though he usually easily succumbed to anger when it involved our children. "This is the second time I'm warning you, Carleon. I'm not in the mood for small talk. If you can't respect my request, you should leave my territory quickly." Then Dostov turned to us, though he quickly winked one eye at me. The tension in my shoulders eased. Dostov walked back to his seat and sat down. "Ah, forgive me once again. I just wanted to see the reactions of the new members of your clan who are present here. Consider it as me helping you test their loyalty to you," Carleon continued. So his previous question was a provocation for us... "If
I could hear the pounding of my own heart. We walked side by side. Alice separated herself from us, as she was planning to enter after Dostov finished speaking. I had heard stories about Carleon from Greg and Lana, who had met him directly. As Vlad's right-hand man, he was incredibly loyal and always carried out his duties perfectly. According to Nick's stories, Vlad never intervened directly or displayed his powers openly because everything was done by Carleon and his subordinates. I had to remind myself repeatedly that we were safe and under the protection of the Dostov clan. We entered the ballroom of the headquarters accompanied by around eight members of other clans. However, Carleon's entourage had not yet appeared; it seemed they were still in the elevator as this headquarters was located on the top three floors of this hotel building. Dostov sat in his chair casually, wearing a yellow hoodie that contrasted with the black robe we were wearing. We stood around his chair sile
The day we have been waiting for has finally arrived. As planned, we all gathered at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel at ten in the morning. Dostov would receive Carleon in the same ballroom as our honorary clan acceptance ceremony yesterday.If Carleon does indeed come today, then some clan members designated by Dostov will also be present as witnesses, although we are also sure that Carleon will not come here alone.While I am nervous, there is someone much more nervous than me at the moment. Lana's face has been pale since we met this morning, and Greg hasn't let go of her embrace. I'm sure Greg's feelings right now aren't doing well either, but he hides his worries very well behind a calm and normal expression on his face.We have to separate to discuss what we need to do later. Greg, Lana, and Luke are waiting in one of the rooms directly connected to the ballroom. Meanwhile, me, Nick, Dostov, and Alice are talking in another room that is more private.Other clan members are waiting in
Chapter 129Dostov informed us to evacuate Elliot and Rosie from Manhattan as soon as possible, so today we planned to leave for San Francisco.Sebastian and Ludmila Moran... I don't remember them very well because we only met once, that too when I was still human. The only thing I remember from that night is Greg's confession that he was the one who bit me six months ago.But as far as I remember, the husband and wife seemed friendly and accepting of me back then, and most importantly, Nick trusted them.We had to hire a private jet because... of course, because of Elliot. He couldn't stop saying "yum yum" to every human he met. Even Nick noticed Elliot's strange behavior at the Waldorf Astoria hotel last night. We were also afraid that Elliot would show his little fangs to everyone if we took a regular plane.Almost a year and a half has passed since I moved to Manhattan, but San Francisco still looks the same. Strangely, I don't miss this place at all, even though I lived in this c