[Charlotte] “Sorry to interrupt, Sir, but…” “Then don’t,” Micah growled, a vein pulsing near his left temple, his hand almost crushing the small velvet box he was trying to present to me. He places the box down gently on the table behind me as he turns slowly to stare at the crew member standing a few feet away. “The Captain insisted," His voice is shaking, as he stands up straighter, trying to not look frightened of the imposing man before him. "He said to tell you Code Orange.” Micah looks over at me and places a sad kiss on my hand before nodding to the crew member and tapping the table. “Sorry, cher, but I…” “What's happening?" I ask Micah as he pulls me carefully out of my chair and nods to the crew who quickly cart the chairs, table, and flowers away, leaving behind no trace that we were there. “What’s a Code Orange?” I try again as he leads me to a set of stairs heading down below decks. He ignores my question. I don't know if it is intentional, or if he is just so foc
[Charlotte] Pivoting slowly, I find myself looking up into eyes that are both angry and worried. “Why aren’t you where you should be? I told them to take you to the safe room, but I see you are here by security?” His eyes grow dark with suspicion, “Were you spying on me?” Shame and fear wash over me in equal measure. This is a man who cares more about honor and trust than any other personality trait and here I am, standing before him, someone he needs to love and trust above all others, breaking both. As the disappointment washes over his expression, I break our gaze and stare down at my feet. “I’m sorry, Micah. I could hear your conversation and I wanted to know what was happening. Please don’t punish her because of my poor behavior.” “Ms. Ramirez,” he turns to my security detail. “You’re fired.” “Understood, sir,” she hands over her keys, name tag, and gun, which I hadn’t seen before and was shocked to see placed on the security desk. “I’ll be in my room until we reach dock. Excu
[Micah]Clutching her necklace part of me wants to crush it between my fingers or fling it out into the sea. She isn’t lying, but she isn’t being completely truthful either.She betrayed me. The woman I finally thought I could love completely and without reservation She agreed to do as I asked and then went against it. She spied on me and listened to what I was saying with a rival. Did she do this for the reasons she stated, because she felt so powerless? Or is there another more sinister reason? Is she working with Andy and playing me for a fool? She went against my wishes, which is bad enough, but the reason she gave, that it was all because she felt curious and powerless and wanted to listen to my conversation…doesn’t feel like her. At least, not the version of her I have grown to love and care for. Has she been lying to me this whole time? Was she placed before me by Andy and McAllister just to test me, to get me to fall for her? Did they plan this out first, using her as a d
[Charlotte] “STOP!” Micah shouts after me as I walk towards the street. I keep on walking with my back straight, my expression blank and my eyes focused on the exit. It has started to rain as if the sky is mirroring my feelings, the light drops of water splattering on my face like gentle kisses. I think of a night not that long ago when Micah made me an offer that would change my life forever. Because even If I cannot live up to his expectations for me, even if this was the last night I see him, I have been changed. I am no longer the same Charlotte Slate who was broken after the betrayal of her husband. I have known real love, and real compassion, and found my strength. Stepping into the thick white wall of San Francisco fog, I can barely see in front of me as I try to find my way. As the wind starts to blow from the bay, the fog grows thicker as it billows in, the exit onto the street disappearing before me. Stopping, I put out my hands before me and I can see them, but no
[Charlotte] "So you WANT us to be seen?" I ask again. "WHY? I mean, as far as Andy knows, I'm stuck in jail just like him. The last thing he saw was me being carted away in the back of a police cruiser." "Oh, I had him released as soon as you stepped onto my boat," Micah waves his hand in the air as if it is nothing, that he can just make people appear or disappear from jail without any real effort. But I guess when you are a billionaire kingpin, almost anything is possible. "He's been home now for over an hour. I'm surprised he hasn't tried to call you yet." I look down at my phone and see that he did indeed call. 12 times. He also texted several messages that get increasingly sour, angry, and agitated as they progress. Old me would have been shaking with fear at how I disappointed my husband, and I've never been more glad to be free of his thrall. Based on the tone, he thinks I'm either dead or ignoring him, which is about the same as being dead in his book. Dear God, he is anno
[Charlotte] Elysium is empty, quiet, and dark except for a few lights that shine on an elaborate makeup table and the beautiful model sitting in a chair across from me. I sit across from her and as I observe her, I watch her observing me. It is creepy, like staring into a mirror. There are elements about her that are not quite right, like the curve of her smile, but most of what might be different is corrected with clever makeup and prosthetics. Violeta, McKaine's makeup artist, smiles when she sees my shocked expression. "How...I..." My mouth flaps up and down as I look from the woman to Violeta and then back at Micah. "I can see that you are pleased with the results," she says with no small measure of pride as she stands next to her creation. "Luckily Juliet was available at short notice." Turning to Micah again I glare at him with narrowed eyes as I inquire, "How long have you been planning this?" He laughs, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "This was Violeta's idea," h
[Charlotte] A proper proposal. That is what I had asked for earlier today when he made his joke proposal. I had only been kidding, at least mostly. But this is no joke. This powerful, proud, incredible man is kneeling before me with his heart on his sleeve and a ring in his hand. This is a serious proposal. "Micah..." I am speechless. My hands are shaking as I bend down to place my hands on either side of his face. Leaning forward, I kiss him sweetly, feeling his lips curl into a smile as I lean my forehead against his and reply, "Yes." He kisses me deeply as he pulls us both to our feet, his arms wrapping around me as the small box presses into my back. He breaks our kiss just long enough to put the ring on my finger before he kisses me again, pulling me up into his arms, my feet dangling above the ground. "You are mine," he laughs as he scoops me up and walks us both to the panic room. "What about dinner," I moan as we walk right past the beautifully arranged meal. "I was loo
[Charlotte]He walks me backward until my legs touch the edge of the bed. Carefully I unbutton his shirt the rest of the way as he removes his cufflinks and sets them aside. His chest is so beautifully masculine, well defined and mostly smooth with only the smallest amount of hair near the center in an auburn chestnut just a bit brighter than the hair on his head. I nuzzle into his warmth, letting my face rub up against his natural fuzz as I breathe in deeply. He smells amazing, maybe even more so because I know I get to keep him, that our love is not a question.I push his shirt down his arms and he kisses his way down my front until he reaches the hem of my slip. Carefully he kisses his way back up my body, taking his time as the slip moves up inch by delightful inch, until his lips meet mine again and I the slip is tossed aside. Standing naked before him, Micah takes a moment to admire me, to praise every part of me with his eyes and his words. “You have the most beautiful breasts
[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