KILLIANI was looking at the beautiful blue of Josie's eyes, the blush gently appearing on her cheeks, and her parted lips. I saw her chest heaving and falling faster. I felt her fingers restlessly tangling in her grip on my neck. I knew she wanted me, but I also knew she was scared, and I didn't want her to run away from me again.As I debated whether or not I should screw the waiting, rip her clothes off, and kiss her senseless, the telephone ring made that decision for me, thoroughly crushing our rather intense moment. It wouldn't be the first time trouble at the company dragged me away from her. I even began to think someone had cursed me… and I would have a potential suspect in that matter. This time, however, I kept Josie by my side. I felt less anxious when I had her within my sight. Besides, I found her presence amazingly soothing.She was tired and quickly fell asleep on my sofa while I worked at my computer, taking care of the most urgent matters. When I finished, I removed
Mother's chest rose sharply as her lips twitched into a cold smirk. “Open threats? That's new.”“Then perhaps you should get used to it, Mother,” I hissed.The curve of her cold smile rose across her face. “I didn't expect you to fight for her. I admit it makes this thing you have going on with her more genuine.”I huffed out a laugh. “Do you even care if it's genuine or not?”“Of course, I do.” She frowned, reaching for her teacup. “I want you to have a wife, someone who can bear your children. If it's a fake relationship, then it's a waste of your time and money.”A dry laugh escaped me. “You never fail to amaze me, Mother. How that stone heart of yours manages to pump blood is a mystery to me.”She glared at me. “Being pragmatic doesn't make me emotionless.”“You are correct.” I nodded as a smirk tugged at my lips. “You do carry a lot of hatred and disdain.”“Is that what you think?” Her brows rose. “Do you think I hate you?”“You certainly despise every woman I show up with.” I lea
JOSIE“So... everything is fine between you two?” I could hear Ashley's giggle over the phone.“I'd say it's more than just fine,” I admitted, a wide grin spreading across my face.“Oh my God! You're falling for him!” She laughed, and a thick blush appeared on my cheeks.“I wouldn't go that far,” I muttered. “Things just progress… in a certain direction…”“Yeah… this progression heads straight to his bedroom.” She snorted. “Speaking of which, how can you stand being so close to him and not... you know.”I cleared my throat. “I admit that I was exhausted last night and didn't even know when I fell asleep, but when I woke up this morning... Let's just say that I'm not sure if I can handle another night without throwing myself on him.”Loud laughter burst through the phone. “Go for it, Josie. It seems like there are no more secrets between you two, he wants your forgiveness, and, most importantly, he wants you.”I bit my lip, suddenly recalling everything he said about earning my forgive
“The entire testing group successfully downloaded the app on their phones.” Martin stood before the whiteboard in our office and read the report. I should probably pay more attention to what he said, but instead of focusing on him, I kept staring at the floor-to-ceiling window, wondering if Killian was as distracted as I was.I was certainly doing what he had told me to, but it had nothing to do with me being obedient. Not thinking about him was almost impossible. I still shivered each time I recalled his mouth, tongue, and fingers on me. The muscles of my lower belly clenched in need every time his wicked promises sounded in my head. I hated him for leaving me like this, but I also wanted him that much more… “Each of them created an account using the instructions we provided. They should deliver us their first filled surveys in about an hour.” Martin's voice sounded through the room. “The group has been divided into three teams. The first team is going to follow all the happy-life
KILLIANI had never sat in the conference room listening to a presentation with my dick hard as steel. My eyes remained fixed on Josie from the second she passed the threshold, and perhaps that was the first fucking mistake I had made. I currently pictured her naked. No. Scratch that. I would have left those black stilettos on her, but I would have surely gotten rid of the rest of the clothing.I observed all her slightest movements, her gestures, the way she smiled at the board members, and the way her gaze escaped whenever she met mine. She licked her lips fifteen times already. I started counting unconsciously, imagining those lips around my cock. I could see how nervous she was, but her sharp inhales had little to do with the presentation. I could see it in her eyes as she looked at me. She anticipated what would come when this meeting ended.I tried to pay attention to the carefully prepared slides, but my stubborn eyes preferred to look at her rather than the boring data. This w
JOSIEThe members of the board and independent specialists were slowly walking out of the conference room. Some of them stopped to congratulate us. A few walked to Killian, expressing how disappointed they were with his decision.I was somewhere between acknowledging what was happening and wondering if I was dreaming. I had faith in that project, and I knew my team had done their best to turn my vision into reality, but I was also aware that not everyone would share my enthusiasm. Today, my team and I had made ourselves quite a few new enemies…“I'm looking forward to downloading your app.” Tony grinned, shaking my hand. “Killian would have been a fool if he'd voted otherwise.”I smiled at him and nodded. “Thank you… and thank you for your vote.”“You're so very welcome!” He spread his arms, inching closer to hug me, but Killian grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him away.“I don't believe I've given you permission to touch my girlfriend.” He glared at his friend.My brows rose. “W
I began to believe that Killian was the devil incarnate. I also considered regularly visiting a gym because my weak body was no match for his nearly supernatural stamina. He was quite true to his words. I had lost count of how many times I had screamed out his name. Fiend.He had to hold me so I wouldn't fall in the shower cabin as he gently soaped my sore body. It was one of the downsides of having sex in his office: no bathtub. Then again, if he'd had a bathtub in his office bathroom, we would have most likely stayed in the company building throughout the weekend.I didn't dare look into Hugo's eyes as he came to drive us to the penthouse around five o'clock in the morning. Using the CEO's elevator and heading straight to the underground parking lot helped us avoid all the nosy guards, but I had no doubt Hugo must have been well aware of what urgent matters made us stay in Killian's office until the early morning hours.Killian held my hand all the way to the penthouse. He kept trac
Kaiden Blair. Killian's cousin was likely to take over the consortium if Killian failed to please his father. I had little information about him, and I quickly figured I should call Killian to find out what kind of man he was. One thing was for certain: if Maxwell Blair valued him, that meant he was most likely cold and calculative and one hundred percent dangerous.I texted Killian as I was leaving the Blair Digital building, and then I tried calling him twice while I was on the way to the consortium. Unfortunately for me, he was too busy to answer or reply to my message. Shit. It looked like I was on my own…Hugo stopped the car in front of the consortium's headquarters' main entrance, and my heart began to pound. The building was at least twice the size of Blair Digital Entertainment, and the entire place belonged to the Blairs. I tilted my head to look up, trying to spot the top of the building, and my breath caught in my lungs. The sole view was quite intimidating.I entered the
Four Years LaterYan Hao, Estelle, and Isabelle had become nothing more than a bad memory. Lou Zichen had been quickly convicted and sent to prison. Estelle and Isabelle landed behind bars six months later. The remains of Yan Hao's army and all his collaborators had been caught one by one. Special Agent Brooks made sure they all ended where they belonged. As if sensing there was no more danger around us, Aria, our beautiful daughter, was born a day after the final trial ended.My once filled with dread and nightmares life had become nearly blissful. Certainly, large areas had needed to be rebuilt, but Killian and I had pieced it back together. I had never returned to Blair Digital. After a year, Blair Digital merged with Tony's company, becoming Blair & Melton Interactive. Killian and Kaiden had recreated the Blair Consortium, making it twice as profitable as before. Of course, they both had wanted me to work for the consortium, assuring me I would find a place there. I'd refused. Inst
Killian didn't like my decision. He'd spent hours trying to make me change my mind, but I knew that this was the only way to end this. Since my leading doctor refused to let me out of the hospital, my team moved into my room, computers and other tech gear included. Killian brought me a laptop table so I could work while lying in bed. Well, at least I wasn't breaking the doctor's orders, not entirely.In two days, we managed to add over fifty more locations to the Eye. We focused on private airports, harbors, and train stations. Then we slowly began to plug as many traffic cameras as we could. The area watched by the Eye extended its range with every second, but it still wasn't enough to find Yan Hao.“Ryuu should have helped us search for his former boss,” Ashley grunted, her eyes locked on the computer screen.I let out a long sigh. “Ryuu has done enough. I cannot blame him that he took his mother and left. Now they can be family again.”Ashley shook her head. “Still, he should have—
JOSIEHe had come for me. He had found me. I remembered his lips on mine. I remembered a vague smile curving his lips. I remembered my voice cracking. I remembered the tears mixed with laughter… Then the sounds and images became blurry. Killian's voice softened and faded.I must have fainted afterward.Returning to awareness was followed by the pain. It pulsed through different parts of my body, but it didn't bother me that much. Perhaps I owed it to painkillers, or perhaps I felt that way because I knew I was safe.Despite the ache, my lips curled up slightly as I opened my eyes. I was lying in bed—a hospital bed—covered with soft sheets. A drip was connected to my arm, most likely the reason the pain I felt was almost acceptable. But none of that put a smile on my face or filled my chest with warmth. Killian's touch did it.He was sitting by my bed, his hand holding mine. His head rested next to our joined hands, his eyes closed. I slowly rose to sit, carefully not to move my hand o
After carefully analyzing the route and comparing it with the plans Tony had found before, we continued through the woods according to Ryuu's instructions. We climbed a small hill and finally saw it—a ten-foot-tall barbed wire fence with watch towers.“Son of a bitch,” Kaiden breathed out as his eyes took in the ridiculously well-guarded facility. “I've seen prisons with less security.”My lips formed a thin line. “Well, now we know for sure that the tunnels are the only way in.”I contacted Gunner and the rest of the groups searching other areas, informing them of what we found. I looked at my watch, and my stomach churned. We had less than twenty minutes, and that was only if Yan Hao decided to stick to his own rules. A part of me knew he might choose to kill Josie sooner...My chest tightened at the thought. I needed to get inside. I needed to find her. Now. “How long until you get here?” A low growl rang in my tone.“Three minutes,” Gunner replied, panting. I knew that he was prob
KILLIANThree Hours EarlierThe Happy App, Josie's creation, no longer existed. Yan Hao must have gotten desperate to get money, and he most likely forced some poor bastard to hack the system, using all means necessary. As Ashley and Kei explained to me, the hacker had entered the system thanks to a small device planted in the server room. Of course, that meant someone from Yan Hao's army must have broken into Blair Digital... I made a mental note to fire the head of security upon hearing the news.This attack might have ended in a huge disaster. I didn't even want to imagine the chaos such a monstrous leak of data could have caused. Certainly, Josie had created a drastic solution in case everything went south. She anticipated the worst scenario. She might have sacrificed her dearest creation, but she sure as fuck saved the entire company.I loved her for it... and for many other reasons... and perhaps a few more I still couldn't remember. Now I could only hope the rest of my memories
My body began to rattle as I stared at Ryuu. Again, his expression was unreadable. Was it just a part of an act, an improvised solution, or did he decide not to respect the deal we made?“You bastard,” I breathed out.Ryuu responded with a cold smirk. “We both know Killian will do anything to have you both back... alive. Let's make him hope he'll get to see you again.”Yan Hao looked at me before bursting into cold, disgusting laughter. “Then should we let history repeat itself? Should I let him pay a generous amount of money before slitting your throat? It would be quite poetic, don't you think? Like father like son. Maxwell Blair thought he was saving his brother... I bet that his son will pay just as eagerly.”A shudder rushed through my body, and my eyes filled with tears. I didn't even know if Killian was conscious. They didn't know that either. Then again, this was a way to buy more time. If Yan Hao wanted Killian's money, he would need to wait for his answer, probably send proo
JOSIEI tried not to think about what was happening on the upper floors. I tried not to think about that arrogant hacker or that the Happy App might no longer exist had he decided to break into our system. Instead, I tried to make those hours count. I talked to Mrs. Satoh, slowly establishing her condition and if there was a chance either of us could escape her cell. The good news was that she wasn't cuffed or otherwise restrained; the bad news was that she had already tried everything, scaling the wall to find a single loose rock included. Well… shit.“So you've been talking to my son?” Mrs. Satoh's voice cracked slightly. “I haven't seen him for more than three years…”My chest tightened. “How long has Yan Hao held you captive?”“I lost track of time,” she murmured. “But I wasn't always locked in a cell like this. Sometimes, I was given a nice room. I was fed well too. My conditions changed depending on…” She trailed off, but I knew what she was about to say.“Depending on Ryuu's ob
KILLIANI stared at the large map displayed on the wall-size screen. The red dots marked the places where Yan Hao's men were recently seen—the possible places where they gathered. We had today's war meeting at Gunner's base, in his office. The base, seldom occupied by more than twenty people at a time, was currently filled with more than two hundred. We all could sense that Yan Hao had been preparing for his final strike, and we had to make sure we could respond to whatever he came up with.The door opened, and Samuel Brooks entered the room. The FBI agent gave Gunner, Kaiden, and me a tight smile before walking over to the map and stopping beside me. “Good to see you alive and well,” he muttered by way of greeting.“Good to be alive.” I smiled wryly.Gunner rose from his chair behind the desk and stepped toward us. “I hope you left your badge outside like I told you to, Brooks,” he warned, giving the agent a firm stare. “If you're not certain whether you'd like to be part of this, be
“What do we do now?” I choked out when Ryuu finally opened the bathroom to let me out.“We need to go.” He grabbed my arm and started pulling me toward the door.Panic surged in an instant. “I can't! I don't even know if the encrypted message passed! I didn't find your mother either!”Ryuu grabbed my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. “We don't have more time. If I don't bring you to Yan Hao now, we're both as good as dead.”I sucked in an uneven breath, ineptly trying to calm down and failing. “So... what will happen now?” I finally managed.He exhaled slowly and looked me up and down. “You'll have to lie, and you'll have to be very convincing. You'll have to put on your best act, as if your life depends on it because it will.”I swallowed a thick knot in my throat. “Tell me what to do,” I breathed out.“First of all, you'll have to act like you're disoriented,” he said. “A few people saw me when I carried you here. You'll have to pretend as if you were unconscious most of the t