KATIE’S POVHe was gone. I saw his car drive away a few minutes ago and waited a bit in the shop I took refuge in till I was sure he wasn't coming back.I sighed in relief and placed my hand over my racing heart. Why did he have to show up in the most unexpected places? When I decided to get some supplies and something nice for Olivia, he sprung upon me. If I weren’t running from him, I would have given him a good scolding for scaring me that way. Was he stalking me? How else would he know I was going to this very supermarket?I adjusted my shawl and stepped out, calling thanks to the shopkeeper. I half expected him to reappear before me as I hurried into the building, but nothing happened.Well, I wouldn't stick around and let him come back for me. His plans to hand me over to the police would not work. All I had in mind was to take my cart and check out immediately. Whatever I hadn't put in it already would wait till another day."Excuse me, madam", the cashier called as I walked p
AUTHOR’S POV"Welcome, hun"Lily exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Blaze. She had come with the car that was to take them back, and she was glad to see him after the few days that he was gone.Blaze furrowed his eyebrows. Lily was excited to see him, which made him wonder what was up. He patted her back briefly and stepped away. "How did the trip go?" Lily asked, leading him into the car."I'll tell you when we get home", Blaze muttered. He felt slightly uncomfortable by her sudden attention, but she had always been the clingy type, so he shrugged it off.The trip? It had gone well, but because he didn't see Katie again for the next two days, he stayed there. He was at the restaurant early on both days, but he didn't even catch a glimpse of her. Not even a turn-up to say thank you. It was with a heavy heart that he got into the plane that took them back to Florence. The one person in his mind was Bill. Katie thought she could stay hidden. Well, he would show that she was not as goo
AUTHOR’S POVBlaze squinted against the rays of sunshine coming through the half-open window. He groaned and shifted on the bed. Immediately, he did that. He was assaulted by a sharp pain at the side of his head. He didn't recall having a splitting headache, neither did he recall how he ended up in his bed. He heard shallow breaths and turned his head in the direction the sound came from, slowly this time.He was met with Lily's smiling face. "Morning darling," she whispered, running her fingers down his bare chest.Which reminded him, where did his shirt go? He felt like someone picked him up and turned him upside down through the night. Everything felt wrong, down to his wife lying beside him. He felt incredibly annoyed that she was fully clothed while he was not"What happened?" Even his voice sounded wrong. Maybe he was in the wrong body.Oh great, where did that thought come from? Now, he was feeling like fifteen-year-old Hunter. Fuck."What do you think?" Lily asked, sitting up
AUTHOR’S POV"Why do I have a feeling this meeting's about Katie?" Bill asked, leading Blaze to the balcony.Blaze shot him a surprised glance. Was he so predictable now? For that reason alone, he wished there was another reason he had come, but no such luck."Affirmative," he replied. "I found her."Bill looked interested. How come someone he couldn't find had been tracked down? Or has he gotten someone else to do the job?"And you're telling me because?" He asked. Do you remember when they agreed that he should report to him? This was strange."It's complicated," Blaze replied. Again, how much could he tell him? The part about him trying to speak to Katie, but she ran away? No, he'd rather keep that to himself. "She got away, and I need you to find her again.""I'm loving the circle she's leading us," Bill said sarcastically. "Why are you still searching for her? I thought she's been proven innocent.""Personal reasons, but I need you to find. I have a location."Bill nodded at him
KATIE’S POVI pulled the satin headband over my forehead and slipped into my running shoes. Doc had told me not to break out of the routine no matter how I felt. She said it would help a lot.I made sure I didn't miss a single day. I hadn't come this far to lose the child now."Oi Katie," the old woman who lives across the street hailed as I jogged past. I lifted a hand to wave at her, and the woman beckoned me closer. "Doesn't it get lonely in that house of yours?" the woman asked.I shrugged. "Well, yes, it does get boring, but I have to trim down the work to avoid any chances of miscarriage.""Oh, sure, dear, I know the story.""Besides, I do get some visitors once in a while," I continued. A smile tugged at my face as I remembered a bunch of my coworkers who came to check up on me four days ago. It felt good to have people who actually cared about me around.They had even brought a few "get well soon" gifts for me. When Vivian called to tell me that I could take my time, even st
AUTHOR’S POVShe spotted Blaze the moment she entered the restaurant. He sat at a table in a corner, backing her so she couldn't see the expression on his face, but she didn't really want to, anyway. His presence alone was enough to leave her disoriented. He still had the same aura around him.She headed towards him, but then someone entered her path. "Tessa, you're here," Jonah said, smiling brightly. "But you're not in uniform. I'm guessing you're not here to work, right ?"Shaking her head. "I want to meet someone."Jonah followed her line of sight to the man who kept coming back and frowned. He still wasn't comfortable around him. "You know that guy?" he asked.Katie nodded, noticing Jonathan's unfriendly expression. "What's the matter?" she asked."It's just... he keeps coming for your number since that first day and days after, and then he left for a week. I thought he wasn't going to come back, but here he is. So, I'm guessing he's spoken to you.""And I'm hoping you didn't give
KATIE’S POVBlaze watched Zuhra walk out with a frown on his face. I guessed he was wondering what he did to make her stare at him that way. "Who's she?" I was surprised he actually asked me that. I thought he'd brush it off as a psycho girl. "She's a friend." Blaze raised an eyebrow. "And what did you tell her to have her glaring at me like that?" Pfft. Like he was important enough for me to rat out all about him to my friends. Now that I thought of it, it wasn't a bad idea to paint the revered Blaze Griffin in a new light in their eyes. "We were supposed to go out this morning, and instead, I'm here talking with you. She's pissed, obviously." "Then I should feel honoured, right?" Blaze sounded amused. He picked up his glass of water and took a sip, maintaining eye contact with me as he did so. I watched his lips leave the cup, remembering the feel of them on mine. I noticed that Blaze made no physical contact with me since we started talking, and that was strange too. Maybe he
KATIE’S POV"It's not that deep, Zuhra," I said, hurrying to redeem myself in her sight."What's he here for? Does he want to take you back, or does he want to claim the child?" The heartbreak on Zura's face was evidence of how much this was hurting her. "I wish you wouldn't jump to conclusions so easily. He just came to say hi, to see how I'm doing," I told her. She didn't look like she believed a word of what I said."That's how they all come. And soon you will leave with him, is that the plan? This guy abandoned you, Katie. From all the time I know you, you have never spoken of him, so I know you guys didn't part in a good way. He left you with his child to fend for yourself, and you're speaking to him?"I tried not to let her words get to me, but the way she put it made me feel like a very naive person. "It's not like that. You don't know the whole story, okay? Things happened. He... he doesn't know I have his child."Zura turned her head with a wry smile. "And why doesn't he kno
Axel followed the man who came to take him out of the cell. He wasn't sure how long he spent here, but long enough to be really glad to be out. The smell of soap lingered on his skin, a bit too strong, but he welcomed it. It had been a long time since he used soap."There's your ride," the man said, pointing at the sleek red Camry parked in the parking lot of the station. In front of it stood Katie, arms crossed around her protruding middle.Axel felt a sad smile tug at the corners of his lips. Even in jail, he heard of the marriage between Katie and Blaze when Cicely came to visit.His smile disappeared as he remembered her expression when she spoke. The wistfulness in her eyes... It was obvious that she wished for her wedding, and she couldn't even have it soon.He had long made up his mind to marry her immediately after he got out of jail. He was able to beg her forgiveness, and she must really love him for actually letting all he did go. She assured him she'd wait; that was the onl
Author's pov Axel sat on Cicely's bed after several minutes of pacing the area and waiting for her to show up. Where the hell has she gone? He was considering going out to search for her when the door opened.But it was not Cicely who stepped through; and it was Lily with a painted expression on her face. "Axel," she began.He already knew what she wanted. Now that their plans had flopped, she probably wanted them to come up with a bigger plan."Save it, Lily, we're through." He shook his head in regret. "I was so foolish ever to think that this would actually work.""What do you mean by we're through?" Lily asked. "We're in this together, right?"Axel sighed. "Let it go, Lily. Find a way to get a new life...""A new life?" She looked devastated. "But I'm pregnant... I have nowhere to go, and you can't just leave me alone.""I have to," Axel replied. "I have to make things up with Blaze, and I know I'll be able to do that if I try.""And what about me, Axel?" Lily said, raising her v
Author's pov Blaze grinned as Tristan made his way to the dining room, where he and Katie were seated. It was a miracle how he could track his location with his phone number and then check all the buildings around for them. He never would have asked for a better friend; Tristan had already proven himself in more ways than he could count.Katie looked up from her phone. "Is that the man going to give us updates?" she asked.Blaze nodded. He was surprised Katie wasn't running from him by now. She even let him stay in her house without him asking. It made him wonder if the past few days' events had softened her towards him instead of making her hate him. He tried not to get his hopes up, though; her niceness didn't mean she'd like to end up with him, as he started to hope for. He couldn't help hoping, no matter how ridiculous it sounded.He wanted Katie back in his life despite all that had happened. As far as he was concerned, he was done with Lily. Katie should have been the one fro
KATIE’S POVNo way, I thought, staring at him and searching for any resemblance to Maverick. I could see none, but then again, I could barely see Maverick's face clearly in my mind. It had been so long ago, like another lifetime."You're lying," Blaze accused. With how he looked at Dylan, I was almost glad he was restricted from doing anything to him. Almost, though, in truth, I wished Blaze was free."Am I now?" Dylan said quietly, coming closer to Blaze. "When my mother got pregnant for your father, he left her, all because he saw a richer woman. You see, Maverick was a coward. His only way to survive was to milk off others' profits, and that's really who you're defending," he asked, turning to me.I stared at him, taking each word with a pinch of salt. I didn't want to believe him since he was the reason I was trapped here, and he even tried to kill me at the end of all this.But then, there was no other explanation for the absolute hate in his eyes as he spoke of Maverick. And why
Katie's povI gasped, staring at the limp bodies of Lily and Axel. "Oh my gosh, are they dead?" I exclaimed."Not dead, darling," the woman said. "These are stun guns," she waved the gun in her hand for emphasis."What kind of stun gun allows the victims to talk to?" Lily muttered against the floor. It was a comical sight seeing her lying there helpless when a moment ago she was gloating over us."The type we use, obviously," the woman replied. I squinted at her, unable to bear my curiosity anymore."Who are you?" I was trying to decide if she was a hero or a villain. She teetered on the edge of both, and I wouldn't say I liked that.She turned to me with a sigh and took off her mask. I gasped, eyes widening as I stared into the face of my former savior. The one person who believed me when I said I didn't kill Maverick and who helped me escape.Right on time again to get me out of this situation. "Doris?" I asked."Not just her." The man beside her said, taking off his mask too. I gas
Chapter 133Author's pov Blaze raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised." The answer was clear: if their places were switched, he would eliminate Axel before he could ruin the big plan."Surprised?" Axel asked. "You didn't think I'd be able to kill you if necessary?""No, I'm surprised we might think the same way," Blaze clarified. He saw the twitch in Axel's jaw, showing that he was irritated by that statement, which made him smile."Not the same way, brother. I'm way ahead of you.""Correct me if I'm wrong, but are both of you arguing about who thinks better right now?" Katie asked, turning to Blaze.Blaze nodded. "I'm trying to make sure there isn't a bigger brain behind this plot of his. Hard to believe it's just you, Axel."And not only that, he was stalling for time. Anything to keep Axel from rounding off his plan soon because if that happened, he would kill both of them so quickly.He wasn't afraid for himself, but Katie concerned him. She was already broken, and having no hope of s
Author's pov Katie gasped, staring at Axel. Of all the people she would have suspected, he wasn't even near her suspect list. Tears blurred her vision as she remembered what he said about her daughter."You beast!" she screamed, lunging forward. Curse these ropes; she would have been able to do something terrible to him. She wanted to hurt him just as he hurt her."How could you? All this while, after how close I was to your family, this is how you treat me? Why?" It was pointless straining to reach him; she slumped against the wall in defeat."I'm sorry about the child. That was not my intention. But it is what it is," Axel began, shrugging as he spoke. He had been shocked to hear."Fuck you, Axel!" Blaze thundered. How could he say he was sorry now? For killing his child, someone he hadn't even met in person.Blaze took a deep breath to calm himself down. The level of anger he was feeling was overwhelming, and the fact that he had no means to channel it out was the worst thing abou
Author's pov No, Katie gasped as Blaze fell to the ground. All that came out, though, was a frantic intake of breath, as she could not speak through the gag she hated so much. After all she had tried to tell Blaze, this stupid piece of cloth prevented her from saying anything.She wished she could rip it off, but her hands were bound, too. They had been since the first day. She glared at the man who knocked Blaze out, wishing she could wipe that smug grin off his face.He turned to her. "Don't look at me that way; he was foolish to come alone."He crouched to her level. "And if he did alert the police, then I'm afraid we'll have to kill you immediately. Either way, our mission will be accomplished."If looks could kill, he would be burned to smithereens by now. First, he wouldn't tell her anything about her child, and now he was threatening to kill her. After keeping her here for days, he did not even have a clue what to do to get him to free her."Just tell me what you want. Why do
Katie's povI blinked, confused. I could have sworn that my eyes were open, but surely, if they were, I would be able to see something. As it was, there was just nothing—pitch-black darkness, the oppressive kind that seemed to close in on you.I shut my eyes again and opened the—same thing. Now I was getting worried. In a rush, it all came back. I was in the car, just discharged from the hospital. There was music, and there was my baby in my arms.A baby that was no longer there since my hands were bound in front of me. I could barely feel my hands, and they were bound so tightly. I shifted, noting that there was a wall behind me, which I was leaning on.My feet were bound, too, most likely with the same material. I hated being tied up. It reminded me of the time when I was sold to the Griffins, a time I never wish to remember anymore.But at the moment, that was the least of my problems. Where was my child? Whoever had taken me couldn't have taken her away, too.It only became hard t