Elijah’s POVI stood by the window, watching the rain pour down in nonstop sheets, drenching everything in sight. The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, each one adding to my growing anxiety.And when I heard that man’s voice in the background, addressing Sophia, calling her name, my heart jumped and my anxiety intensified.I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me. Who the hell is that man? Why is she with him this late? I wanted to demand answers, to tell her to come home immediately. But I knew I didn't have the right. We weren't together. She had her own life, her own choices.“Who's with you?” I couldn’t help asking, my voice turning cold despite my efforts to stay calm.“Elijah, it's nothing,” she replied quickly. “I'll explain everything later. I promise.”I wanted to protest, to tell her that I needed to know now, but the words stuck in my throat. Before I could say another word, the line went dead. She had hung up on me.I stood there, staring at the phone in my h
Sophia’s POVI was halfway to my apartment when I realized I was still wearing Adrian's jacket. The rain had poured down heavily earlier, soaking my thin blouse and leaving me shivering in the cold. Adrian had draped his jacket over my shoulders without hesitation, also insisting to come with me in my car and make sure I was safe coming back home.“Oh, shucks, I need to return this to him,” I muttered, turning around to go back to the lobby. “Hope he’s still there.”The elevator ride was quick, and as the doors slid open to the lobby, I heard voices. I paused, recognizing Adrian's voice immediately.“Why do you care so much about Sophia? Is she your girlfriend?”I held my breath, peering around the corner just enough to see them. Elijah stood with his back to me, his posture tense, while Adrian faced him, arms crossed defensively.Elijah's response was calm but firm. “No, she's not my girlfriend.”A flicker of relief and disappointment mingled within me, confusing my emotions. But bef
Sophia’s POVChris and I pulled up to his grandparents' old house, its charming, weathered facade standing as a testament to years gone by. The paint was peeling, and the roof looked like it had weathered one too many storms. Chris parked the car and turned to me, a look of excitement mixed with nervousness in his eyes.“This is it, Sophia,” he said, turning to me after he parked in front. “I’m so glad you were able to come today. My grandparents mean the world to me, and this house... well, it's seen better days. This is why I’ve decided to gift them a new one, to show my appreciation for everything they've done for me.”“That’s such a beautiful gesture, Chris,” I told him sincerely. I knew that he had a lot of money, but choosing to spend it on a new house for his grandparents showed that he really cared about them. “I’m glad to be a part of the project.”We got out of the car and made our way to the front porch. As Chris knocked on the door, I could hear faint sounds from inside, s
Sophia’s POVA month had passed since I was appointed head of design, and I’d been thriving in the role. Reporting directly to Elijah was initially awkward, but we managed to keep things professional. Our relationship had evolved into a light, friendly dynamic that I found surprisingly refreshing. But today, I was at Raven Media, visiting my best friend Kayla, whose family owned the company. “Can you believe it, Soph? We're finally here!” Kayla's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she led me into her bright, stylish office. “It’s my very own office within the company!”“It’s amazing, Kayla,” I replied, taking in the sleek furniture and the vibrant artwork on the walls. “I’m so proud of you.”She grinned, twirling a lock of her dark hair. “Thanks. And guess what? I have a proposition for you.”“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow, curious.Kayla leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Since you’re already done designing all those major projects for Sinclair Realty, I want
Sophia’s POVI held Reese’s hand as we both walked eagerly into the hotel's lounge. The place was buzzing with anticipation, the warm lighting throwing a golden glow over the sleek, modern décor.I spotted Kayla near the front, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she waved us over.“Sophia! Reese!” Kayla greeted us, her enthusiasm infectious. “You made it just in time. Adrian's about to go on.”We settled into our seats, and I tried to calm the fluttering in my stomach. Adrian and I had grown close since that time when he’d asked me to help him out at the grocery. I knew this night was significant for him. He had poured his heart and soul into his new single, and I was here to support him.The lights dimmed, and the room fell silent as Adrian stepped onto the small stage, guitar slung over his shoulder. He looked confident, yet there was a softness in his eyes when he glanced our way. “There he is!” Reese exclaimed beside me. I smiled at my daughter. She was a music lover, even at
Sophia’s POVInside the apartment, I helped Reese out of her coat and asked, “Did you like Uncle Adrian and his song today?”Reese nodded enthusiastically, her eyes bright. “Yes, good song! I like him. But I like Daddy so much more!”I laughed, tucking her into bed. “Of course you do, sweetheart.”As I smoothed her hair and pulled the covers up, Reese's expression turned thoughtful. “Mommy, when is Daddy visiting?”“Tomorrow, sweetie,” I assured her, kissing her forehead.Reese's face lit up with a sleepy smile. “Yay. I love Daddy.”“I know you do. Now, get some rest,” I said, watching as she drifted off to sleep, her small hand clutching her favorite stuffed animal.As I left Reese’s room and walked over to my own, I thought about Adrian’s song and what it truly meant. Why do I inspire him? Why did he write this song for me? What am I to him?My head kept spinning with these questions, keeping me from falling asleep at once. Adrian always makes me smile. He’s fun to be with. It seems
Elijah’s POVThe party was in full swing now. I stood at the edge of the crowd, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I watched Sophia, radiant and beaming, surrounded by colleagues and well-wishers. The celebration party I had organized was a success, and seeing Sophia so happy made it all worthwhile.“Congratulations, Sophia! Your designs are truly exceptional,” one of the senior architects said, shaking her hand warmly.“Thank you, Mr. Thompson. It means a lot coming from you,” Sophia replied, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.Another designer, Lily, stepped forward. “Sophia, we're all so impressed with your work. The new concepts you introduced have taken our projects to a whole new level.”Sophia blushed slightly. “I couldn't have done it without the team's support.”“We're glad you're leading the design department of Sinclair Realty,” said Mark, a junior designer. “You've brought a fresh perspective and so much energy.”As I listened to the chorus of praise, pride swelled
Sophia’s POVMy breath hitched when I heard the dare they gave Elijah, and I felt a cold wave wash over me. Is he going to do it?Elijah and Julia exchanged a look, a flicker of something unspoken passing between them. I could feel my heart tightening in my chest, my mind racing with questions I had no answers to. Why was this affecting me so much?Elijah broke the tense silence with a chuckle. “Oh, come on, Jenna. Julia’s like a sister to me.”I felt the color returning to my cheeks, and my breath seemed to return to normal. Julia's expression wavered. For a split second, I saw the hurt in her eyes before she plastered on a smile and nodded in agreement. “Yeah, totally. Like a sister… And Elijah’s always been like a brother to me because we grew up together.”Jenna’s playful frown didn’t hide her disappointment, but she quickly recovered. “Fine, fine. But...” She was cut off by Mark, one of our more inebriated colleagues.“Maybe our boss likes someone else, huh?” Mark slurred, nudgi
Sophia’s POVA hush of golden light slipped through the curtains, draping the room in warmth and calm. It felt like the kind of morning that only came after surviving the storm.Weeks had passed since the chaos faded, and for once, the quiet didn’t feel temporary—it felt earned. I stirred slowly, eyes drifting open to find Elijah beside me, his hand resting lightly over mine. I studied him in the silence, taking in the softened edges of a man who’d carried us through fire and finally found peace.I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. His eyes fluttered open, and when they focused on me, he smiled sleepily."Morning," he murmured."Morning," I whispered back, letting my fingers trace the line of his jaw. "Can you believe we actually get to wake up like this? No chaos, no danger—just us."He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. "I could get used to this."Just as I was about to say something, the door burst open."Mommy! Daddy!" Reese called out, followed quickly by Roxy an
Elijah’s POVWe weaved through the cracked streets, deeper into a part of the city that felt like time had forgotten it. Boarded-up windows, rusted signage, buildings collapsing in on themselves. This was the kind of place where ghosts lingered, and today, we were chasing one of them."We’re close," Joe muttered from the front seat, his eyes scanning the GPS on his phone. "This is the last possible location that fits Hugo's hideouts."Antoine sat beside me in the back, silent but focused. His jaw was tight, hands clenched. I still didn’t know if I fully trusted him, but I couldn’t deny this: he was here, risking his neck like the rest of us. And right now, I’d take any edge we could get.I have to find Grandpa George. For Sophia.When we pulled up to the burned-out remains of what once looked like a chapel, a chill shot down my spine. The stone structure still stood, half-charred, the wooden beams above blackened and skeletal. Nature had tried to reclaim it—vines curling around scorch
Elijah’s POV“Sophia…”Her name was the only thing in my mind as I stormed through the decaying hallway, boots slamming against rotting wood, gun drawn. My pulse thundered in my ears. The floor creaked beneath every step, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t.Joe and his men fanned out behind me, covering corners, checking every room.We were running out of time.Then—A scream.My heart nearly stopped. It was her.I charged forward, slamming my shoulder into the door at the end of the hall. It burst open—and I saw red.Morgana was on the ground, gasping for air as Hugo’s hand squeezed her throat, and across the room, Sophia was trying to drag herself toward them, her face pale and streaked with tears.“NO!” I shouted, and without hesitation, I raised my gun.Hugo turned just as I fired.The bullet tore through his shoulder. He howled, stumbling back and releasing Morgana, who crumpled to the floor, coughing violently.I crossed the room in three strides and tackled Hugo before he could
Sophia’s POVThe first thing I felt was cold.A biting chill that wrapped around my arms and legs like a second set of restraints. Then came the pressure—tight, scratchy ropes cutting into my wrists. My head pounded like a drum, fog thick behind my eyes. Everything smelled like mildew and dust.My eyes struggled to make sense of the shadows.The room was dim, lit only by a weak bulb overhead that flickered like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to stay on. I was on a metal chair, hands tied behind my back, ankles secured to the legs. The air tasted stale and old, like the walls had been sealed off from the world for decades.Panic bloomed in my chest.My brother Chris. What had become of him?I jerked forward, straining against the ropes. “Chris!” I called, my voice hoarse and raw. “Where is he?!”I noticed some movement in the darkness. A shadow stirred in the corner of the room. I froze as a figure stepped out into the light. Tall. Gray-streaked beard. Sunken eyes like old coals. A d
Sophia’s POV“This is insane,” Elijah muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “We’re relying on Antoine to lead us to Hugo. Does no one else see how crazy that is?”Joe, who had been checking messages on his phone, barely looked up. “We don’t have another choice.”I watched Elijah pace the room, his frustration clear. He wasn’t wrong, but I knew that if there was even the smallest chance of finding Grandpa George, we had to take it.Joe sighed and turned to Antoine. “You sure you can make him bite?”Antoine shrugged. “I know Hugo. He’s a cockroach—he won’t go down without a fight. But if he thinks his last hiding spot is compromised, he’ll make a move. That’s when we strike.”Elijah muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. Joe’s phone buzzed. As he studied the screen, he said, “We got something. Two possible locations.”Elijah straightened. “Then let’s move.”They all hurried out, and I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to call Elijah back—to make sure he’d pick up
Sophia’s POVMy mother sat on the couch, clutching Grandma Evelyn’s hands, trying to calm her down. My father stood near the window, staring out into the darkness, his face pale and unreadable.Chris and Connor were huddled over a laptop at the dining table, analyzing security footage.Joe was already there, speaking into his phone, barking orders to his contacts.But no one had any answers yet.And Grandpa George was still missing.I turned to my grandmother, kneeling in front of her. “Grandma—did you see anything? Anyone suspicious? A car, a stranger?”Her red-rimmed eyes filled with fresh tears as she shook her head. “No… nothing. I don’t know how this happened.” Her voice broke. “George was just in his study… and then he was gone.”Elijah placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me, but I could feel the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. He wasn’t just worried—he was furiousJust then, Chris snapped his fingers at the screen. “We’ve got something.”Connor turned the laptop t
Sophia’s POVWe had been trying to track down both Antoine and Hugo, but they had vanished like ghosts.No leads. No sightings. Nothing.Lucas had called me earlier, still searching, still digging. Even Elijah and his contacts have been working doubly hard. But so far, they’d come up empty too. It was frustrating—knowing the danger was out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.But tonight…Tonight, we weren’t going to think about it.Tonight, we were here to celebrate.After all, Lila and Adrian’s joint concert was finally happening. This was their moment, their dream unfolding before them.And for the first time in what felt like forever, we were all together, enjoying something good.Kayla was everywhere at once, her headset on, clipboard in hand, barking last-minute instructions into her earpiece. She was stressed, frantic… but glowing. Even though there could have been other people to take care of all this from her company, she wanted to be in charge, to personal
Emily’s POV“Walk away, Hugo,” Antoine said sharply, stepping in front of us as if to shield us from the strange man.The name triggered a memory.Chris had mentioned it just yesterday—Hugo Tournier. Suddenly, I remembered. It’s the name Sophia and Elijah had been trying to track down. The man who had supposedly changed Sophia’s life forever.And now he’s here. Why?!My hands instinctively balled up as my heart slammed against my ribs. Could this really be the same man?Hugo’s expression darkened with satisfaction as he took another step, exuding an air of quiet arrogance.“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth but laced with something sinister. “You’re not as fun outside of prison, Antoine.”Phoebe’s grip on my wrist tightened. “Emily, let’s go,” she muttered under her breath.I wanted to. Every instinct screamed at me to turn and leave. But I couldn’t—not yet.Hugo came forward, his eyes staring straight at me. He gave a low chuckle, mocking. “It’s interesting to meet Sabrina Ba
Emily’s POVI refused to flinch. Even as Antoine stood in front of me, blocking my way, I forced my body to stay still, to stay firm.I squared my shoulders, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. “Move.”Antoine didn’t budge. His gaze shifted between me and Phoebe, like he wasn’t sure if I’d actually listen or turn and run.“I’m not here to fight,” he said, his voice calm. “I just want to talk.”Phoebe’s grip on my arm tightened, and her anger was immediate, sharp.“Oh, hell no,” she snapped. “What are you even doing here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. I wasn’t going to let him see me feeling nervous or affected by him. Antoine exhaled, his face unreadable. “I just wanted to talk.”Phoebe laughed coldly. “Talk? You took Jared, Antoine. Without permission. Do you have any idea what you put us through?”“I know,” he admitted. “I made a mistake.”Phoebe scoffed. “A mistake?”I stepped forward, my gaze hardening. “Please, Antoine.