My heart pounds as I stare at him, unsure if he’s joking or serious. I don’t dare open the box, instead I look around the restaurant at all the patrons laughing, and carefree, not realizing their death is being counted down. Ten seconds feel like an eternity. One second is all he needed to remind
My stomach winds, tightening into a fine knot, the tighter Sirius holds onto my hand. His fingers lace with mine, and I wince when he cracks one of my knuckles in his grip.“Sirius,” I whine. “You’re hurting me.”Sirius’s grip loosens slightly but his grip remains firm. Alston moves in closer to me,
“She needs to be taken care of,” Sirius bites back.I shake my head, rubbing into Alston’s bicep, lacing my fingers with his. “I don't need any of that," I say firmly, despite my voice trembling slightly. "I need someone who will walk beside me through life."Alston pulls me closer into him, his voi
The billboard changes to another angle, and Claudia is sitting on the edge of a mountain, in a bikini as if that is practical. One of her hands is pointed to the camera with a big, pulsating diamond ring on her finger as she bashfully looks away from the camera.The slogan The King and I in perfect
I spin around a large smile plastered on my face. “Alston,” I shake the bag of sandwiches, chips and sodas in his direction. “I made you lunch…well I brought you a late dinner, early dinner.”"Elise? What are you doing down here?" he asks, his hands snapping around my waist as he places a tentative
“Connections, what?” I turn to watch him continue to pack up his office.I frown, my mouth agape, about to ask more, but Alston raises a hand to stop me. “Trust me, Elise. It’s all taken care of. I tried to get us a flight out of here but they’re all booked for the next month, so I think we should…w
Four Black cars surround Alston and I, as we drive, trying to escape the city. The vans up at the end of the road block up in and theFear grips me as the black cars close in. Alston reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Stay calm,” he murmurs. “We’ll get through this.”Men in dark suits exit the veh
Alston steps forward, his stance protective. “Who are you? What do you want with her?”The man’s eyes shift to Alston, a hint of amusement, and annoyance in his expression. “I am Rudolf Belmont, head of the Belmont family, but you can call me Rudy.” He extends his hand to me, I place it in his hesit