DANIELBoth Catya and Klaus likely consider me crazy right now, but I don't care; I run up to my, or should I say, our room after seeing the bullet because it's hers.No one in their right senses will kill people with bullets that carry their initials; most people not Rebel, my crazy daredevil of a lover. Law enforcement agencies from different parts of the world have tried everything to recruit her, but she doesn't respond to them. She plays by no one rule but hers, but by some miracle, she loves me just as I love her, so I get away with a lot (I chuckle as I think about this).As I step into my very luxurious room, I hear the shower running and immediately remove my clothing; I had been so irritated all wèeweekouldn't get a single job done and meetings were disastrous despite Kĺaus" efforts and that's mostly because she had to travel and didn't allow me to send anyone to be with her or even let me visit because according to her it's healthy to stay away from each other for days to a
ROBERTAT HIS OFFICEI stare into space as the blond hair lady suc** my dic*, she's making so much sound enjoying herself bobbing her head up and down but I'm unmoved; she isn't the one I desire the one I desire is too far away from me, unreachable so while I get frustrated and tired of not being able to have her in the meantime to have a good time I imagine them all to be her. This is how I even get to enjoy sex now. I hold her head still, then fuc* her mouth till I cum, and she swallows.I spin her around with her back facing me while I sheath myself, raise her very tiny skirt to see her bare with her folds extremely wet while simply slamming into her. She feels good, but I know she could never feel as good as Rebel, and with this thought in my head,d, I quicken my pace and drill hard into her before cumming. I dispose of the foil, then adjust my clothing, and then her annoying voice speaks. "Why do you still use condoms with me when you're the only man I'm sleeping with?""Is that
REBELThe coffee shop is alive with its usual rhythm-steady murmurs of conversation, the hiss of steamed milk, and the comforting scent of coffee mingling with pastries. Daniel sits across from me, completely at ease, his ever-present grin crinkling the corners of his eyes. He's pitching something absurd: a vacation."You're smiling," he says, leaning forward like he's got me figured out. "So, does that mean you're picturing us lounging on some beach without a single assassin in sight?"I smirk, shaking my head. "I'm smiling because the thought of me 'relaxing' while people are actively trying to kill us is hilarious. Don't get used to it."He laughs, that low, easy chuckle that always seems to bubble up no matter the situation. "You're stealing my thing, Rebel. Laughing in the face of danger is kind of my brand.""Maybe I'll give it back when I'm done borrowing it."His laughter fades, replaced by something softer, more serious. He leans in, his voice quieter now. "You don't have to
REBELThe sand is hot under my feet, but the heat encircling my chest has nothing to do with the sun.A proposal? Now?I keep walking, my heart thudding in my ears, drowning out the waves. I have no idea if I'm angry or tired. Maybe both. Maybe neither. I just know I need space.Behind me, Daniel sighs. Then footsteps. He's following me, of course he is."Rebel," he says.I don't stop. I don't know if I can."Rebel, stop."Part of him makes me hesitate. It's not a command. Not pleading. Unshakeable.I face him, my arms crossed over my chest. He's standing there, still gripping the bloody ring, face impassive."You simply turned around and left," he says, tilting his head like he's trying to figure me out."Yeah, I did," I snap out.His jaw clenches, but his gaze doesn't shift. "Fine. Why?"I catch my breath, fists tightening. "Because, Daniel, we were just fired at. We just had to fight for our lives at a bloody coffee shop, and now you-" I gesture toward the ring. "Now you want to pl
KLAUSThat's why I hate working with lovers.They think with their hearts, not their heads. They make stupid, rash decisions. And the worst part? They don't listen to you.Rebel's already grabbing for her gun, strapping on firepower like she's going to stroll right into the jaws of the enemy, and Daniel-he's looking at her with that same idiot expression. The one that says he'd go to hell and back for her without hesitation.Fools."You're not seriously thinking of going alone," I say, my tone flat.Rebel doesn't even look at me. "Not thinking. I am going alone."I release a harsh breath, dragging a hand down my face. "Do you have a death wish, or are you trying to get on my bad side?""It's not all about you, Klaus," she snaps, slamming a clip into her gun. "Robert is my problem. They want me. That means if I don't go, they'll kill him."I cross my arms. "You're also assuming they'll let him live if you do go."That makes her hesitate. Only for a second. Only long enough for me to pu
REBELHis breathing is labored. "You shouldn't have come."A chill runs down my spine.I don't have time to answer.The overhead lights come on abruptly, blinding me for a moment. Then-The cock of firearms.A dozen armed men step out of the blackness.It's a trap.I shove Robert aside, gun held in my hand before the first man can do anything. I shoot twice-one drops immediately, one stumbles away-but I'm already outnumbered.A crack of agony sends me to my knees.I twist, elbowing the man who hit me, but another grabs my arm, twisting it behind my back. Pain flares through my shoulder.I snarl, fighting against the hold, but it's useless.A familiar voice cuts through the chaos."Enough."The room goes still.I lift my head.And there, stepping forward with a casual ease, hands in his pockets like he owns the damn place-Robert.Untied.Unhurt.Standing.My stomach drops.He leans forward, regarding me with something close to regret. "You should have stayed where you were, Rebel."Th
MICHAELThe burden of the conversation I had last with her rested on my shoulders as I stepped into the dimly lit hallway, leaving Rebel and Daniel to deal with the turmoil I had unleashed. I had not meant to cause discord, but truth could slice deeper than any blade.Rebel would demand explanations. And Daniel... well, he would have no choice but to give them.As I walked, my mind turned again to the look in her eyes-pain, uncertainty, and something far more evil. Determination.She would not relinquish to this fight.She would follow Daniel, come what may. She's fallen in love. Her care now rests also on him. He's good but I'm not sure he's good enough.And that is what I had to prepare her for.I stepped into the security wing of the compound, an area that had been reinforced as if for war, not negotiations. The guards barely greeted me as I moved into the command center, where video streams streamed on several monitors.Isaac, my second-in-command, looked up from his station. "How
REBEL The moon threw a chill silver glint over the tops of trees as I picked my way silently through the heavy forest, the wet ground cushioning my tread. Every tension in my muscles was drawn to a taut thread of intent, every respiration measured. I had snuck out unbeknownst, moving around the security of the compound like a woman with a lifetime experience of evading those who had thought they could keep her pinned. I didn't need anyone. Not Daniel. Not my father—or handler, as he preferred to refer to himself. This was my problem to solve. Robert had betrayed me. Robert had abandoned me, knowing exactly what it would cost. He knew me well enough to expect that I'd go looking for him. But what he failed to realize—what no one ever quite did—was that I wouldn't hesitate when I found him. I would end it all here once and for all. I tailed him for hours, following a digital trail of breadcrumbs he had so casually left behind. It was too simple, but I was not about to let an oppo
REBEL The ballroom was suffocating. A tsunami of A-list celebrities, flashing chandeliers, and razor-sharp suits. I could barely hear myself breathe over the buzz of expectation, the clinking of glasses, and the muffled classical music in the distance. This night was to be my grand entrance into society—Princess Beatricia Rhodes. My family. My pedigree. It felt like a funeral. I didn't belong here. These were not people like me. But Michael was here. And that was all that prevented me from walking away.DANIELThe world had come crashing down in an instant.I stood frozen on the entrance of the ballroom, watching life fade from Michael's body as Rebel clutched him to her, screaming out for help that would never come.I'd seen death before. In fact, I had delivered it.But never like this.Michael was dead.And Rebel—Rebel was breaking.The moment the shot was discharged, I had pushed through the crowd, my instincts crying to reach her. But Klaus had grabbed my arm, holding me
KLAUS Malls were not my thing. Nor was babysitting my best friend's crazier emotions or holding people back from going into a mess they had no business seeing. But here I was, standing in the middle of some high-end boutique, watching my wife, Catya, dig through dresses and keep a watchful eye on Carly Rhodes. Carly's arrival was not a surprise. I'd expected her to show up sooner or later. What surprised me was how damn determined she looked. Her back was straight, her eyes sharp, scanning the store like a mother ready to go rescue her kid. She had no clue what she was getting herself into. I did. Daniel just showed up, slipping into the dressing room behind Rebel. And I had made sure no one—above all, Carly—had entered upon them. I was standing in front of her now, an easy smile on my face, my stance casual but firm. "Carly," I said simply, "you have to give her space." Her eyes snapped to mine. "Space?" she said curtly, echoing me. "She's my daughter. I deserve a moment w
DANIEL I was bored. Not the boredom that comes from having nothing to do, but the kind that weighed heavy in my chest like a numbing pain, one that only had an antidote. Her. Rebel. I knew she was shopping with Catya—Michael had informed me. And while shopping wasn't exactly my forte, the thought of her being out there in crowds of people, getting ready for that ridiculous function her birth father was having… Didn't sit right with me. I wasn't stupid. I knew what Jacque Rhodes was doing. This wasn't just about presenting Rebel into the world as his heiress—this was about parading her in front of potential husbands. He wanted to match her up with someone he deemed fit. Someone who fit in his domain. And that sure as hell wasn't me. I clenched my teeth, my grip on the steering wheel firming as I parked in front of the boutique she was at. My car's tinted windows gave me an unhindered view of inside—Designer clothes, subdued lighting, and a handful of fashionable shoppers. An
MICHAEL I arrived ten minutes early to the restaurant. It was a habit I never quite broke, the urge to scope out a place before sitting down. Old habits don't die, not when you've spent years protecting someone. Rebel wasn't here yet, which didn't surprise me. She wasn't one who hurried into meetings, especially ones she hadn't agreed to attend in the first place. I had no doubt she was already deciding whether to step through that door or turn around and pretend she never got my message. The waiter stopped by, menu in hand, but I waved him away. I was busy looking at the door. And then, like clockwork, she walked in, shoulders squared, eyes slitted. She was dressed casually, but there was nothing casual about her. Rebel walked like a person on the hunt for a brawl. She spotted me immediately and walked over, she's wearing a short black dress and ankle boots. She gives me a hug and a peck before sliding across the seat from me. You look good," I said, inspecting her. She d
ROBERT The club was dark, throbbing with slow, hypnotic rhythms that shook the floor. The conversations were submerged under the music, and that was exactly why we were there. Somewhere like this guaranteed discretion—nobody paid attention to anyone unless they were half-naked or waving cash. I slid into the frayed leather booth in the back, my back against the wall. A waiter hovered nearby, but I pushed him aside. I wasn't here to drink. The man across from me, on the other hand, had a glass of whiskey in front of him, twirling it slowly like we had all the time in the world. He was older, around forty maybe, with a tailored suit that yelled money. There wasn't anything particularly conspicuous about him—no scars, no tattoos to flash, nothing that would make him stand out in a crowd. That was precisely what made him so deadly. He was the kind of man who worked behind the scenes, the kind you did not see approaching until it was too late. "You're late," he said to me, voice smoo
MIA I didn't need Robert, not really. But I was here anyway.I came because no matter what it is that I do, he'd never even look at me. Once upon a time he cared, he never loved me but he cared. He used to give me every material and I never cared about his many whores yet immediately he met her, he wouldn't even let any female close to him. What is it that she has that I don't?, What makes her different or special? Now, I've discovered that she is the daughter to my employers who are practical royalties rolling in their billions, their heiress. She has everything without even trying. The restaurant was upscale, the kind of place where corporate executives cut deals over hundred-dollar steaks and old whiskey. Dark, quiet, reserved. The perfect place for a conversation that no one else needed to hear about. I smoothed my silk shirt over, ignoring the tightness in my chest. The last I'd had the displeasure of seeing Robert was when he'd stood in the shadows, watching with that sneeri
MICHAEL The restaurant was quiet, the kind where people whispered and the air stank of expensive wine and aged wood. I sat at a table in the rear corner, back against the wall, eyes on the door. Old habits never died, no matter how much time passed. Jacque Rhodes walked in five minutes later, his presence commanding even in the dim lighting. He was tall, with a build of a man who'd never known frailty, and he had on a crisp black suit that probably cost more than most individuals made in a year. His eyes found me right away. I didn't stand when he approached, but when he reached the table, I did rise, extending a hand. "Jacque." "Michael." His handshake was strong, the kind that betrayed strength and dominance, but I missed the stiffness in his posture. He was a man used to being in control, used to repairing things with power and money. But this? This was something that power and money couldn't fix. We sat, and Jacque shooed the waitress away before she had a chance to
REBEL The house was too quiet as we returned, yet I was pissed, so much so that I hadn't spoken a word as we returned home. It wasn't the quiet of a peaceful stillness that had settled over the house when everything was all right. It was the heavy, crushing quiet—the kind that sat on my chest and made breathing difficult. I stood in the middle of the living room, my arms crossed so tightly they ached. Daniel sat opposite me, his posture unselfconsciously loose. But I knew it for what it was. His hands were jammed into pockets, his feet firmly planted, and his face impassive. But the tension emanating from him was tangible. He knew I was mad this time around. He's always gone overboard but this was crossing a line he shouldn't have and the consequence is dawning on him now. He knew what was going to happen. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice level. "How long?" Daniel didn't pretend not to know. He breathed slowly and deliberately before speaking. "A while." I cle
CARLY RHODESI had a hollow in my chest for twenty-two years.A hollow where my daughter should have been.When I first heard her name spoken aloud-Rebel-I came close to collapsing. My husband steadied me before my knees could strike the floor, but nothing could catch the breath that left my body.Rebel.My little girl.All these years, I had dreamed about this moment. A reunion, a miracle. I had dreamt of the time when I would have her in my arms, kiss her hair, and say how much I had missed her.But standing there before me now, staring at the young woman standing before me, I realized something awful.She didn't recognize me.And worse-she didn't care.She stood stiffly by a man whose presence alone had the air thick with tension, a man whose fingers lay possessively at the base of her spine, poised for her to run at any moment. His dark eyes fixed me, unreadable and calculating.But it wasn't him I was afraid of.It was her.Her cold, hard eyes. The way she stood like a soldier go