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Into the Lion's Den
Last Updated:
2024-12-12 00:21:30Related chapters
ONE NIGHT FOREVER Silent Aftershocks
The smoking remains were illuminated by an unsettling glow as the chilly morning descended over Damien's broken estate. Faint flames burned amid the rubble, and smoke curled toward the pale sky. The once-impenetrable walls of the house were now broken, a menacing reminder of the lengths Claire had gone to. I was reminded that the nightmare was not yet finished by the distant sirens. Even after Claire was carried away, vanquished for the time being, I was still tormented by the poison in her last grin. I knew in my heart that it wasn't over, but she wanted us to think it was. We stood, damaged but alive, in the shattered courtyard. Kyle and Vanessa hovered close by, their features determined but pallid. Despite the odds against us, they had fought as hard as Damien and I had. Beside me, Damien remained quiet, his look unwavering as he gazed at the abandoned mansion. His clothing were charred and ripped, and his hands were smeared with blood. However, I was more concerned about the s
Last Updated : 2024-12-12ONE NIGHT FOREVER The Hunt
Sharp shadows were formed over Damien's face by the icy light of his phone, which illuminated the pitch-black cabin. His face was etched in stone, but as he gazed at the message on the computer, his eyes blazed with deadly intent:Did Damien believe he could hide from me?Breathing became difficult for me. Each little moment of tranquility we had discovered was shattered like glass. We were located by her.Still half sleeping, Vanessa and Kyle staggered into the living room, but they were immediately awakened by Damien's weapon, which was gripped securely in his palm."What is happening?" Kyle, who was already looking out the windows, demanded.Damien replied icily, his voice devoid of feeling, "She's back." "Claire knows our location."“How?” Vanessa growled. "Nothing was tracked; we left everything behind."Damien's jaw became tense. "She's always ahead of the game."The cabin's dread-filled air seemed oppressive. Now the calm lake outside seemed like a trap, a wide open area with n
Last Updated : 2024-12-12ONE NIGHT FOREVER The Final Stand
Like thunder, the boathouse door exploded, shattering the delicate silence. Wood fragments splintered in the air and landed on the groaning flooring. Men with guns and tactical gear rushed in, moving with deadly accuracy and aiming their weapons.Damien's face was as hard as stone as he charged forward like a natural force. Silently and deadly, Damien attacked before the first invader could react. Before firing a single, silent shot into the shoulder of the next guard, his elbow struck the man's chin, sending him reeling.“Go down!” Damien's voice broke through the confusion as he yelled.Retaliating with grim resolve, Vanessa and Kyle crouched behind a pile of fallen boxes. The air was heavy with gunpowder and desperation, and every shot was loud due to the boathouse's tight quarters.My fingers were shaking around the cold steel of the revolver Damien had put into my hands before we ran, and I flattened myself against the wall with my pulse racing. Continue to live. I couldn't get t
Last Updated : 2024-12-12ONE NIGHT FOREVER Making Amends
Amidst the silence left by the devastation, the distant shriek of sirens became more intense. Thin trails of steam rose into the cold air as the broken pieces of the boathouse hissed and smoldered, and smoke floated languidly over the lake.Even though our garments were soaked in icy water, Damien's arms grew tighter around me and his breath felt warm on my neck. As if I were going to vanish if he let go, he clutched me."We must move," Vanessa said, her tone calm yet strained. Her eyes were awake and piercing, and she and Kyle stood nearby, their faces bloodied and pallid. "The police will arrive soon."Slowly, with a stone-carved visage, Damien withdrew. "We won't be leaving."“What?” Kyle resisted. "We cannot rely on them!""They will pose questions that we cannot respond to," Vanessa growled.Damien's eyes became steely. "Claire remains out there." We will be pursued for all time if we flee now. This concludes with the truth.I tightened my chest. He was correct, but approaching t
Last Updated : 2024-12-12ONE NIGHT FOREVER The Last Hunt
As we flew over the impossibly vast sky, speeding toward an unknown future, the sound of the private jet's engines became quieter. Sitting opposite me, Damien's jaw was clinched and his eyes were fixed on the far horizon as if he could control the future.Claire's supposed stronghold was a distant island fortress, which is where we were going. Even though my gut told me that this was a trap, there was nothing we could do about it. She would discover us if we fled. She would ruin everyone we loved if we remained.The only means of escape was via.Safe and hidden under government protection were Vanessa and Kyle. However, safety seemed illusory—a fleeting escape in a world where Claire had all the power.Only the steady cadence of Damien's fingers tapping on his thigh revealed the fury brewing behind his composed appearance. Years of battle from which he was unable to flee had worn his measured calm to the brink.I grabbed his hand across the little cabin and stopped its agitated motion
Last Updated : 2024-12-12ONE NIGHT FOREVER The Last Account
Claire lunged with lethal accuracy, her shining sword pointing directly at my chest. As instincts I was unaware I had taken over, time appeared to slow down. I swerved to the side, just missing the blow.Claire foresaw the move, but Damien reacted more quickly than I could comprehend, his rifle already lifted. With a flawless turn, she used the momentum to knock his weapon out of his hands and send it skittering over the steel floor.Damien's voice was harsh with rage as he hissed, "You should've stayed dead."Claire's mouth twisted into a poisonous grin. "And pass up this reunion? Never!She cut once more, pushing him back, each blow driven by unadulterated, uncompromising fury. With frantic breath, I battled through the adrenaline blur and scurried for the fallen pistol.Before I could get to it, two of Claire's surviving guards rushed into the hallway brandishing their rifles. I snatched up the rifle without thinking and shot. My shot was accurate despite my shaking hands; one guar
Last Updated : 2024-12-12ONE NIGHT FOREVER A Chance Encounter
Normally, I don't drink, but tonight was an exception. Laughter echoed off rich mahogany wood and polished glass as the Manhattan bar throbbed with life and vitality, yet I felt completely cut off from the celebration going on around me. The aftertaste of whiskey sour burnt my lips, and even the alcohol couldn't take away the dull agony that throbbed in my chest.I was reminded of the email that had destroyed my whole day by the buzzing notice on my phone. I looked at the screen, anticipating what I would see: *Ms. Vance, three weeks. In three weeks, we must receive the money; else, we will start the foreclosure process. In three weeks, $250,000 will be generated. The benefit it would do me would have been worth a million dollars. My parents had left me the one house I had ever really loved, and it was pretty well gone.A middle-aged guy with a soft smile and weary eyes, the bartender frowned in worry as he observed me. “Another one, miss?” he pointed to my almost empty glass.I ponde
Last Updated : 2024-11-20ONE NIGHT FOREVER A Dangerous Invitation
I was constantly reminded of how little time I had left by the rain beating on my apartment's windows. I tried to concentrate on anything other than the growing fear that made my hands shake and my throat tighten as I watched the drops rush down the glass. Even though it was beyond midnight, sleep seemed like a far-off dream, too far away for someone whose life was on the verge of disintegration.Damien's remarks taunted me one night as they replayed in my head. No, I had replied. Even though I had convinced myself that a guy like him could only make matters worse, the image of his gaze and the feel of his palm continued to gnaw at me like an unshed tear.I ought to have been working on the current issue. The one decision I chose not to make instead tormented me—temptation resisted but not forgotten.The sound of a knock startled me out of my reverie. My heart jumped out of my mouth as I staggered from the kitchen chair. In this area, no one knocked on my door at this late hour. I slo
Last Updated : 2024-11-20
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ONE NIGHT FOREVER The Last Account
Claire lunged with lethal accuracy, her shining sword pointing directly at my chest. As instincts I was unaware I had taken over, time appeared to slow down. I swerved to the side, just missing the blow.Claire foresaw the move, but Damien reacted more quickly than I could comprehend, his rifle already lifted. With a flawless turn, she used the momentum to knock his weapon out of his hands and send it skittering over the steel floor.Damien's voice was harsh with rage as he hissed, "You should've stayed dead."Claire's mouth twisted into a poisonous grin. "And pass up this reunion? Never!She cut once more, pushing him back, each blow driven by unadulterated, uncompromising fury. With frantic breath, I battled through the adrenaline blur and scurried for the fallen pistol.Before I could get to it, two of Claire's surviving guards rushed into the hallway brandishing their rifles. I snatched up the rifle without thinking and shot. My shot was accurate despite my shaking hands; one guar
ONE NIGHT FOREVER The Last Hunt
As we flew over the impossibly vast sky, speeding toward an unknown future, the sound of the private jet's engines became quieter. Sitting opposite me, Damien's jaw was clinched and his eyes were fixed on the far horizon as if he could control the future.Claire's supposed stronghold was a distant island fortress, which is where we were going. Even though my gut told me that this was a trap, there was nothing we could do about it. She would discover us if we fled. She would ruin everyone we loved if we remained.The only means of escape was via.Safe and hidden under government protection were Vanessa and Kyle. However, safety seemed illusory—a fleeting escape in a world where Claire had all the power.Only the steady cadence of Damien's fingers tapping on his thigh revealed the fury brewing behind his composed appearance. Years of battle from which he was unable to flee had worn his measured calm to the brink.I grabbed his hand across the little cabin and stopped its agitated motion
ONE NIGHT FOREVER Making Amends
Amidst the silence left by the devastation, the distant shriek of sirens became more intense. Thin trails of steam rose into the cold air as the broken pieces of the boathouse hissed and smoldered, and smoke floated languidly over the lake.Even though our garments were soaked in icy water, Damien's arms grew tighter around me and his breath felt warm on my neck. As if I were going to vanish if he let go, he clutched me."We must move," Vanessa said, her tone calm yet strained. Her eyes were awake and piercing, and she and Kyle stood nearby, their faces bloodied and pallid. "The police will arrive soon."Slowly, with a stone-carved visage, Damien withdrew. "We won't be leaving."“What?” Kyle resisted. "We cannot rely on them!""They will pose questions that we cannot respond to," Vanessa growled.Damien's eyes became steely. "Claire remains out there." We will be pursued for all time if we flee now. This concludes with the truth.I tightened my chest. He was correct, but approaching t
ONE NIGHT FOREVER The Final Stand
Like thunder, the boathouse door exploded, shattering the delicate silence. Wood fragments splintered in the air and landed on the groaning flooring. Men with guns and tactical gear rushed in, moving with deadly accuracy and aiming their weapons.Damien's face was as hard as stone as he charged forward like a natural force. Silently and deadly, Damien attacked before the first invader could react. Before firing a single, silent shot into the shoulder of the next guard, his elbow struck the man's chin, sending him reeling.“Go down!” Damien's voice broke through the confusion as he yelled.Retaliating with grim resolve, Vanessa and Kyle crouched behind a pile of fallen boxes. The air was heavy with gunpowder and desperation, and every shot was loud due to the boathouse's tight quarters.My fingers were shaking around the cold steel of the revolver Damien had put into my hands before we ran, and I flattened myself against the wall with my pulse racing. Continue to live. I couldn't get t
ONE NIGHT FOREVER The Hunt
Sharp shadows were formed over Damien's face by the icy light of his phone, which illuminated the pitch-black cabin. His face was etched in stone, but as he gazed at the message on the computer, his eyes blazed with deadly intent:Did Damien believe he could hide from me?Breathing became difficult for me. Each little moment of tranquility we had discovered was shattered like glass. We were located by her.Still half sleeping, Vanessa and Kyle staggered into the living room, but they were immediately awakened by Damien's weapon, which was gripped securely in his palm."What is happening?" Kyle, who was already looking out the windows, demanded.Damien replied icily, his voice devoid of feeling, "She's back." "Claire knows our location."“How?” Vanessa growled. "Nothing was tracked; we left everything behind."Damien's jaw became tense. "She's always ahead of the game."The cabin's dread-filled air seemed oppressive. Now the calm lake outside seemed like a trap, a wide open area with n
ONE NIGHT FOREVER Silent Aftershocks
The smoking remains were illuminated by an unsettling glow as the chilly morning descended over Damien's broken estate. Faint flames burned amid the rubble, and smoke curled toward the pale sky. The once-impenetrable walls of the house were now broken, a menacing reminder of the lengths Claire had gone to. I was reminded that the nightmare was not yet finished by the distant sirens. Even after Claire was carried away, vanquished for the time being, I was still tormented by the poison in her last grin. I knew in my heart that it wasn't over, but she wanted us to think it was. We stood, damaged but alive, in the shattered courtyard. Kyle and Vanessa hovered close by, their features determined but pallid. Despite the odds against us, they had fought as hard as Damien and I had. Beside me, Damien remained quiet, his look unwavering as he gazed at the abandoned mansion. His clothing were charred and ripped, and his hands were smeared with blood. However, I was more concerned about the s
ONE NIGHT FOREVER Into the Lion's Den
The icy metal hallway, illuminated handiest through the emergency lighting that had been nevertheless flashing red, went on for all time in the front of me. All that remained of Damien was the ghost of his frantic kiss as he vanished into the darkness. Despite the risk, my instincts urged me to go after him, and my heart hammered like a battle drum.I remarked in a shaky but determined voice, "We can't just let him go."With fearful and angry eyes, Vanessa seized my arm. "Are you crazy?" He's working to keep us safe! In pursuit of him, we shall only be slain.With a gloomy nod, Kyle acknowledged. His remaining card is the only one he is using. Rushing in will make us liabilities.The fire in my breast, however, was too strong for reason to put out. Damien may have been willing to give his life, but I wasn't willing to let it. Unlike this.With my voice cracking, I said, "They'll kill him."After a moment of hesitation, Vanessa's face softened with grudging comprehe
ONE NIGHT FOREVER Checkmate
Tension crackled in the broken control room, as the smell of gunpowder and burning rubble filled the air. Like a dark queen asserting her kingdom, Claire stood at the edge of the devastation, her face shining with victory. Behind her, a resolute wall of firepower and strength was erected by guys with heavy weapons.Damien's hands clenched around his weapon, and his knuckles whitened. There was a struggle going on inside of him that I could almost feel—one of calculating, anger, and something more profound—desperation."Claire," he growled in a steely voice. "Now this is over."Her smile became bigger. "Oh, Damien... It’s simply the beginning.Vanessa gripped my hand tightly, her fingernails reducing into my flesh.With a resolute but pallid expression, Kyle remained still next to us. Even though we were trapped, outgunned, and outmatched, Damien had refused to give up. Not yet.With twisted delight, Claire's icy stare switched to me. She drewled, "Audrey Vance." "The woman who d
ONE NIGHT FOREVER Under Siege
Through the vast halls, the sound of breaking glass and the heavy thud of booted boots blended with the estate's screaming alarms. Behind the bookcase, Damien pulled me into a secret passageway while red security lights flickered, creating unsettling shadows on the marble flooring."Continue to move!" With his hold strong but not painful, Damien let out a bark. Following closely after us were Vanessa and Kyle, whose faces were frozen in horror and astonishment."What is going on?" Vanessa, straining to keep up, gasped.“They broke through the wall,” Damien snarled. "They'll take advantage of you if they catch us, but they're here for me."He said something that was like a kick to the belly. We were fleeing not just to save our lives but also from those who would murder us without hesitation.The tunnel we came out of was long and dark, with chilly, metal walls. With a start, I understood that this section of the home was a bunker rather than just an opulent mansion. Strong, strategic,
