[Charlotte] My hands are still shaking when I make it to what I assume is McAllister’s private jet, as it is the only plane on the tarmac. He must be very powerful and very rich to make himself such a high priority. My suspicion is confirmed when one of his plain-clad security detail comes down the stairs to greet me. “Mrs. Slate.” “It’s Ms. Monroe now,” I try to smile. “My divorce was final about an hour ago.” “Ms. Monroe,” he corrects himself without missing a beat. He doesn’t say another word as he holds out a hand to help me navigate the steep jet steps. As soon as my eyes adjust, I can make out McAllister in the back of the jet, surrounded by his associates. He waves me to him as he shuts his cell phone. Standing, he takes my hand in his. “May I be the first to congratulate you on your divorce,” he gives me a wide, genuine grin. “Andy is a snake. You deserve better, Ms Monroe.” “Than..Thank you,” I sputter, surprised. “Now if you could take a seat,” he motions to the ch
[Micah]I wake with a gasp to the sound of machines beeping and the whirling of an overhead fan. I am in the warehouse, which means that Charlotte did as I asked. She didn’t take me to a hospital but got Roger instead. “Where is she,” I croak, not sure if anyone can hear me, or even if anyone is nearby. “Oh good. You’re awake,” Violetta’s heels make a smart clicking sound as she approaches my bed. I turn my head with effort as every part of me burns with the pain of whatever poison I ingest as it makes its way out of my body. She places a straw near my lips and I take a long drink of water. “Where is she?” I repeat, wishing I could look around. My head is pounding too much for me to make any sudden movements. “Where is Charlotte?”“Mistress Kane left about two hours ago. She should be in Portland by now.” I smile at the name “Mistress Kane,” wondering if she had given herself that moniker or had it forced upon her. Knowing My Angel, she probably wasn’t the one to suggest it. “Why
[Charlotte]It isn’t hard to pretend to have fun speaking with McAllister for the plane ride to Portland. He is intelligent, sophisticated, and very charming. Had I met him instead of Micah all those months ago when Andy broke my heart, I might be on the other side of this battle between McAllister and McKane.Too bad he is also the lying, scheming, backstabbing bastard who almost killed my fiance with some kind of well-placed poison. If it weren’t for that unfortunate detail we might even be friends. “It’s too late to take you back to headquarters,” McAllister announces. “And I’m sure you must be exhausted. I’ll have Gregorio here to arrange temporary lodgings for you during your stay here with us. “That’s very generous of you,” I smile sincerely. “But I won’t be staying long. I need to get back to my family and…”“Oh, yes, of course,” he nods. “Your daughters. Rose and Raine? Well, I’m sure they’ll be fine with their nanny for a day or two.” I bristle at his dismissal of my daught
[Charlotte] This room is not a guest suite that was just secured by his security staff. This is a premeditated prison. I don't want to deal with these games. It is late and I am exhausted. Between the party and watching Micah fall, to taking on this role as a Mafia don's wife and queen, every part of me feels heavy with both strain and sorrow. Micah. We should have been on our way to our secret location right now. This morning was supposed to be our wedding day. Did McAllister know of our plans and go out of his way to wreck them? I wouldn't put it past him. In more illicit circles they call him "The Weasel" and the name suits him just fine. I will not cry. I will not let this bastard make me feel weak. I will stay strong for my family. Squaring my shoulders I take a deep breath, placing my hands on a tall table near the door. I know that Violetta is listening. She said she'd monitor everything personally to keep me safe. I trust her to keep her word, but just in case I want he
[Charlotte]I don’t dare say his name. I know who it is. There is no mistaking the velvet timbre of his voice. He could say my name across a crowded room and I'd know it. I hold the receiver close to my face and wish I could be holding him instead. Micah McKaine. My lover, my fiance, my devil. He says he's on his way. I am both excited and terrified at the idea of seeing him again so soon. When I left him behind in San Francisco he was connected to machines clinging to life. I don't know what miracle he called in to be on an airplane headed my way, but I worry that he is making a terrible mistake. He's still so weak. Does he want to risk coming into the lion's den?“I miss you, Juni, but you really shouldn't call me here. I'm busy settling into my new job.” I hope he understands what I’m trying to do. I am sure the room is bugged. I'm pretty sure the phone itself is still safe since he hasn't had an opportunity to switch it out or be alone with it. That doesn't mean he hasn't got ot
[Charlotte]The rude sound of an alarm wakes me from a lovely dream. As I pull my head out of the covers, I see that all the lights in the house are flashing while a high-pitched wailing sound vibrates off the walls. "What is going on," I kick myself out of bed, throw on my one safe, clean dress, and grab my shoes. Is it a fire, or an earthquake? Some other kind of emergency.As soon as I enter the main room, the noise and lights come to a complete stop, the hotel room returning to its regular calm state. Whatever emergency required that level of alarm must have passed.Sensing I am up and about, the suite greets me in a frighteningly friendly manner. "Good Morning, Ms. Monroe. How may we serve your needs during your stay?""What the hell was all that noise," I hold my head, my eyes burning with exhaustion. "Torture?""Your alarm clock, miss. Mr. McAllister will be expecting you at brunch in about an hour. Shall I call hair and makeup?"I look at my reflection and groan. I look like I
[Charlotte]"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you correctly?" I look over at McAllister. "Mr. McAllister, I'm supposed to be your liaison, not the CEO. I don't know anything about running a multi-billion dollar company." "Oh, I disagree, Ms. Monroe," he gives me one of his signature smiles. "Besides, who else can I trust? Andy is out of the picture and McKaine will be gone in just a few short weeks. But let's discuss this over brunch, shall we? I don't know about you, but I think better with a full stomach." "So you trust me now," I raise my eyebrow as the doors to the elevators open. "I trust you to act as I expect you to act," he smirks. "Nothing more, nothing less.""You know what," he smiles again. "Skip brunch. Why don't you and Riggs find you a new place and go shopping and tonight, I'll meet you for dinner and drinks."There is something about the way he says this that makes me uneasy, but I do not feel I can refuse his offer without drawing suspicion. "That sounds lovely,"
[Charlotte]I leap into his arms, pulling him into me, breathing his scent mixed with the smell of cooking grease and soap. As he wraps his arms around me, I start to cry. It has only been a day, not even 24 hours, and I missed him so much."Shhhh Cher," he coos as he holds me closer. "I'm here mon petite ange.""How are you here? You were dying when I left you! I came here to seek revenge, you foolish man." I pull him closer to me, so tight I can feel his heart beating against mine. "Miracles and medicine," he laughs, but it ends in a cough. He's still not well, he's just hiding it for my sake.I want to wrap myself in him. I want to forget the world exists and keep me with him always. But I can't. For all I know we are being watched right this minute. Or listened to. None of this is safe. Turning slowly in his arms I face Riggs, my security detail, hired by McAllister. He rolls his sleeve back a little bit more and shows me a small, golden chrysanthemum mixed with cherry blossoms
[Charlotte]I don't remember much after that moment when I first attacked McAllister. I was lost in the moment, avenging my fallen friend, making sure that he didn't get up ever again. And then I felt a sting on my back and a rush of heat. I fell to the ground and the rest faded into nothing. When I woke up in the hospital two days later and Juni was by my side, I thought I must be dead. But I wasn't. She isn't dead, and neither am I. An hour or so later, Micah arrives in the room smelling clean and looking tidy, his arms full of dozens of chrysanthemums in shades of gold and white. "A gift, from the Masumotos, " he explains as he sets them down next to my bed. Juni kisses me on the cheek and says she'll see me later as she leaves Micah and me alone. "The girls are fine," he says as he takes a seat, "And as you can see, so is Juni. Everyone is safe."I nod. It's all starting to feel like a bad dream. A nightmare I didn't think I'd wake from. "Was it ever Juni in that room?" I ask
[Micah][Earlier that evening]Stepping out of my car, I am flanked by my crew as together we walk straight into the dragon's den. Our enemy, McAllister, is going down tonight. We aren't alone as we approach the landing. It seems that McAllister called in all of the faction heads to attend his VIP event. Even the current head of the Skeleton Crew is here, Bones LeRoux bringing full Louisiana flair, from his checkered suit to his ivory-topped cane. Mobs bosses and gang leaders from across the country all gathered in one place. McAllister is planning something. Something big. Maybe this wasn't just about MMK Industries. Does McAllister have plans for a global expansion? "Nah," I say to myself, realizing the truth. "He's just trying to show off." Roger, standing next to me, nods in agreement. For a man who is outwardly plain and prefers to remain unnoticed, he does have a way of making himself showy when he needs to. As soon as we pass the threshold to his mansion, the drab exterior
[Charlotte]The flight over was grim. We are not going to Portland on holiday--it is a rescue mission. Micah and I stayed next to one another, but I couldn't cuddle in his arms the way I'd prefer. We both had to be generals of this little rag-tag army of ours. I have my girls, my Blue Diamonds, and he has his Angels and his soldiers, his troops on the ground. There would be time for snuggling later. If we all survive this. And if we don't, I guess we'll have to find each other in the next life. As soon as we land we'll be going our separate ways. He'll be taking his people to the Tattooed Walls. We'd be McAllister's guests in one of his hotels.Our time went by much too quickly. It felt like a blink Holding my hand, we disembarked together, Micah refusing to let go of me until he had no other choice. Waiting on the tarmac were two cars heading in different directions. If all goes well, we'll be back here tonight, on our way home.And if it doesn't...Using our intertwined hands as
[Micah]I do not like this plan of Charlotte's. It is too dangerous. She is putting too much at risk, even surrounded by her Blue Diamonds. As part of the plan she made with McAllister, she and her girls will be providing "entertainment" for him and a few choice guests. "A private, intimate party for only the very best customers." Just the thought of her in a room with his kind of people makes my heart race and my vision blur with fear and anger."I'm counting on you to make the most of the time we give you," Charlotte demands, holding my face between her hands as she looks me dead in the eyes. "My girls and I can take whatever he dishes out, don't you worry about us. He isn't going to expect that a bunch of strippers are also cold-blooded assassins. But we are only the distraction. We need you and your boys to get us out of there safe."I think she is underestimating him, which is why I need to make sure my part of the plan goes flawlessly. As soon as we touch down, I kiss my beau
[Charlotte]My blood is still boiling after seeing what that bastard did to his own daughter. It is ten times worse than any humiliation that I ever faced by Andy's hand, and it is her father pulling the strings. Did he make her watch Kenji suffer too? Was she in the room when her father's men cut off his ear? We're going to save Sasha and Kenji. And then we're going to burn it all down. But how do we slay this sick dragon? Micah wants to go in full guns blazing, the Masumoto clan at his back. Grandma Masumoto is down for this plan, angry that her favorite grandson has been captured and so thoroughly disrespected. She's already called the cousins in Yokohama. They'll be flying directly to Portland and arriving tomorrow morning. I have another, more subtle plan, one that I hope will distract McAllister enough for Micah to be successful in our little coup.Pitching my idea to him, he tenses. "I don't like this, Mon Ange. I don't want to put you in that demon's grasp." "You'll be ju
[Charlotte]"Can you sign for this?" A smiling young man approached the main desk. I was passing through and our receptionist, Claire, handed it to me. Sasha was out today, so I took the package. Weirdly, she didn't call in, but knowing Kenji's plans for her last night, I'm sure they're still busy "resting" in bed this morning. I can already imagine the wedding. She'll be such a beautiful bride. After thanking Claire, I see that it is made out to Mr. and Mrs. McKaine. Rubbing my finger across the postmark, I can't help but glow. We're really married. It's still so hard to believe, even though I wake up next to him every morning snuggled into his warmth after a night of endless lovemaking. You'd think learning I am pregnant with his twins would cool his ardor--mission accomplished! He's so virile he succeeded in knocking me up twice over. But no, if anything he's even more passionate, even more determined to show me his love every day. "You are so beautiful," he likes to tell me eac
[Sasha]My father has never been a gentle man. Nor has he ever shown compassion to anyone, not true compassion. Not even to his daughter. I grew up knowing that I am not blood-related, that he picked me from a selection of surrogates pregnant with children they didn't want. He didn't want to leave his physical legacy in the world. I was just something for him to control and mold. Love wasn't part of the deal.To be honest, I don't know if he's capable of such a complex emotion. Or any true emotions. He wears masks that people find believable to convince him that he is interested in them and that he cares about anything they have to say, but it is all an act. Just another part of his carefully curated self-image. Just like me--just another prop to make him more "likable" and "relatable." Most children turn to their parents when they need comfort. I never had that instinct, or more precisely, I was never allowed to develop that kind of attachment. The only people who were with me cons
[Charlotte]Humming to myself, I walk to the break room, take a slice of some "welcome home cake," that the office had presented to us this morning, and grab a nice cup of coffee. The cake tastes amazing. I've hardly been able to keep anything down lately and my body needs the calories. Apparently, this baby likes sugar because I am able to eat the entire piece without even the smallest touch of indigestion. Taking a sip of my coffee to cut the sweetness, I start to choke. Fighting back the urge to vomit, I force myself to keep it all down. Fine, no coffee. My girls gave me similar trouble. They didn't like any caffeinated beverages. I couldn't even drink a cup of green tea. "Babies suck," I look at my coffee sadly as I text Micah to let him know our appointment is in 45 minutes. "Meet me in the garage in 10 minutes," I text as a follow-up. Tossing my coffee, I groan. I could have used that jolt of energy.I don't even make it to the elevator before Micah has his hand around my wa
[Charlotte]Things are different when I come into the office the next day. My morning starts normally enough. Micah is already off for his day, gone in early to take care of some "urgent business," and I'm to come in a bit later after dropping off the girls at their new school. My new driver, Agnes, is the latest addition to the Blue Diamonds, and like Roger is to Micah, she will be my constant companion and driver. "Ma'am, we're here," she announces in a tight, southern drawl. "Are you ready, or do you need me to make another circuit?""I'm ready," I give her my sunniest smile even though on the inside my stomach is churning--although I'm not sure if it's about this or something else, something more important. Thankfully Sasha is already in my new office, typing a report when I enter. I know she's McAllister's daughter and I shouldn't trust her, but Kenji loves her, and that's good enough for me. I trust his judgment and his family's legendary ability to judge a person's inner cha