A/N: And then…. They live happily ever after. Would they? Next chapter, we will be back on the plot. Thank you for reading. Please leave comments or vote if you like this.
57. Skiing > I step onto the speed boat holding Jessica’s little finger. The breeze feels nice, whipping my hair into a frenzy. “I swear to God I will chop them off soon,” I mutter to myself, my voice barely audible against the boat’s engine. It’s getting harder to take care of them “Don’t.” A voice says, and I glance back over my shoulder. I hadn’t realized Mikolaj was walking behind me. He is wearing his signature sunglasses, obscuring his eyes from view. The lenses reflect the sunlight, making me squint my eyes. “Why?” I ask him as my gaze swims across his broad frame. He is wearing a crisp, white linen shirt paired with well-fitted Khaki trousers. The top few buttons are undone, revealing a glimpse of his chest. Inviting enough. He leans over, and I step back to give him space. He smiles and picks Jessica. “It’s convenient to hold you by your hair…” he says as he passes me, leaving me flustered all over again. Last evening was wonderful. Mikolaj had called
58. Magnets>A van?My eyes widen with concern. “For how long?” I ask, glancing back over my shoulder to spot the so-called van. But all I see are headlights flashing in my eyes. It’s almost dark and the traffic is… moderate. It takes me a moment and then I spot it.“The gray one?”“Yes,” Philip glances at us through the rearview mirror. “I’ve been keeping an eye on it for a while now, Ms. Adams. It feels like it’s been tailing us since we left the dock.”The van has tinted glasses. It looks like a delivery van or the kind that kidnaps people. A shiver passes my spine and I look away. “And apologies Mr Josef, I wasn’t attentive before,” Philip adds and I realize something. Why is he using surnames all of the sudden? Is he pissed at me? “That’s alright Phillip. You are not a bodyguard,” Mikolaj says as he looks back. “And please call me Riley. What’s up with Ms Adams!” I say and he chuckles. “Are they paparazzi?” I ask. Before he can make up an excuse.“Probably... Bu
59. Some insights>Reed? I take a seat on the couch with my legs folded to my chest. Squinting my eyes, I try to read again. Or is it Red? No. It’s Reed.Only a few names can send a chill down my spine. West Reed is one of them. Depending on my mood on certain days, this name can make me depressed, hopeless or wistful.I don’t have any mental capacity for any of that. So I ignore my feelings and wrack my brain, to remember if there is some business rival Mikolaj has with this name. But why would a business rival do such a thing? This is way more than rivalry. And ‘Reed’ I know… It’s impossible that they could be the same person. My mind is riddled with questions, so I read the article to find some answers. It is the same old stuff I already know about black canopy with some absurd claims. ‘Renowned combat contractor.’‘Formidable reputation.’‘Conducting hits or rescues with alleged government support.’And whatnot. I skim the article quickly. ‘Rumors persist of hi
60. Old Man>An excitement bubbles up inside me and I can’t remember why I was annoyed at him. I must have a memory of a goldfish right now.“Are you coming or not?” he says as he makes his way to his room. I trail behind him like a lost kitten.When we pass the basement door, a playful smile tugs at the corners of my lips. There’s something mysterious about his basement. More he denies and dances around the topic, the more intrigued I become. What is in there?“There are some promises you made but didn’t keep.” My voice is barely audible, but he hears me anyway. “Like?” He turns, raising an eyebrow in question. It sounds like a challenge to elaborate. School raises a burning question. Am I ready for what he has in mind? Absolutely not. So I respond with a meek, “Nothing.” As if he reads my mind and his gaze shifts towards the basement door. “Let’s cover the basics first,” he proposes. His tone is laced with a mixture of amusement and dominance. “Once you’re comfor
61. Girlfriend.>– 20 years ago –“What do you mean, you are not in a mood?” Chloe whines in a high-pitched voice. After dropping Lena at Garrett’s place, I asked her if she wanted me to stay for moral support. She denied.Now that I am back home, I cannot stop thinking about her. Going to a party is last thing on my mind.“I didn’t get to rest over the weekend. Let me sleep, for fuxk’s sake.”“Oh Fuxk off. I am ready and I am going. Maybe I will find myself a new boyfriend.”I snort. “Good luck finding one to bear with you.”“Ohhh, do you think it’s easy to be with you? It’s not.”I grin as I lay on my back. “Oh really? So why do you bear with me?”“Because…I like you.”I go quiet at her words. But after a brief silence I say, “uh-huh. That’s news.”“Go Die! I am going. You never join me at the parties, anyway.”“Thanks, I want to get some sleep.”“Oh yeah, sure, get your beauty sleep.” She mocks, and I cut the call, laughing.I stare at the ceiling, thinking
Betrayal > – 20 years ago – “A financial journalist, to be exact. Did she ever tell you? I don’t think so.” Her words echo in the room and a mix of disbelief and anger surges within me. “Do you even have any idea what you are saying?” How stupid can she be? She huffs. “I remember the reports you were worried about, Miko. The one published three weeks ago. Her father could be the writer.”I chuckle, shaking my head. It's not that simple to locate an anonymous writer, Chloe.. And I vetted Garrett’s family when Lena started dating-” “Clearly you didn’t do a good job. Because I am sure of what I am talking about.” I let out a heavy sigh. “Explain.” She is wrong. She has to be. “I had my suspicions, and I needed to prove my point.” She crosses her arms and admits with her chin up. “So I spied on them. I saw Garrett visiting a news agency kinda place a few times. Yes, it’s difficult to find an anonymous writer and yes, it’s sheer luck. But if you see the photog
63. Details>Traffic was terrible this morning, and it took me forever to reach. Thankfully, I took a bath at Miko’s place. So I only have to change my clothes. Right now I look like a nomad. I open the door, expecting to find it empty. So I’m a little shocked when I see girls propped up in bed.“Hey…“ Ira drawls.“Hiii… Why didn’t you go to class yet?” I ask as I stroll into the room. Natalie arches a brow and grins. “What do you think?” Ira texted me half an hour ago asking how long it would take me to reach. I had told them I would be late and they should leave without me.My cheeks turn red as I close the door behind me. “I can see you have missed a lecture, too. I don’t know what purpose it will serve you..,” I mumble as I place the luggage bag under the bed. “… because there won’t be any talk show about my sex life today.!”“NOOO…” Natalie groans. “Please!”“Seriously, stop being so full of air! You know we are curious,” Ira adds.“You two can sincerely fuxk off
64. Email>A musical laughter fills my ears as I stroll inside the daycare. I know it’s Jessica. I have taken her to the park and library a few times. So far, I have learned she is the loudest among her age group. “Riley!!!!” she exclaims as her face lights up with a bright smile. She runs towards me, her little arms outstretched. I scoop her up into my embrace. She looks too pretty in her adorable yellow cotton outfit with a ruffled neckline and satin ribbon waist. I have to give credit to Mikolaj that he doesn’t dress her up like a boy. Although she will look cute either way.“Heyyy! How was your day?”She waves goodbye to her friends without answering my question. I talk to her daycare teacher for a few minutes, then we make our way out. Jessica’s tiny hand clasps tightly in mine as we stroll in the parking lot. Out of instinct, I scan the parking lot. A white cruiser with tinted windows is parked. Did it follow us? I shake my head. I shouldn’t get worried.“How was
. - Riley - .“Lie down with me?”Mikolaj nods and pulls out his phone, typing a quick message. I watch him, feeling an odd tightness in my chest that I can’t quite understand. When he finally tucks his phone away and lies beside me, I turn onto my side to face him. It’s then I notice the slight hitch in his breathing, each breath rough and uneven, his face etched with lines of pain.“How bad are your injuries? Your liver?”“It’s fine. She was creating a fuss for no reason,” he says with an air of annoyance towards the stern lady. “My ribs are still a mystery. We will know more after x-ray.” His voice trails off, and I glance up at him, raising a brow.“And…?”“Nothing serious. I’m hoping it’s just a hairline fracture, not a full break…”“Sounds awful.”“Not that bad, trust me. I am just worried about how I will handle Jessie jumping around in bed.”I go quiet when I hear Jessie’s name. How things will be when I get back to my life. West could try to kidnap me again, or Maxim. Would I
. - Riley - .As they wheel through a dimly lit hallway, lethargy and dull pain wash over me like a heavy blanket. My back aches, my left arm throbs, and there’s something digging into my neck that’s becoming increasingly annoying.The stretcher carrying Miko pulls away from me and he protests, “Take us to the same room!”“No…” the medic who tended to us in the chopper says pointedly.“Oh, for fuck’s sake, it’s not a hospital!” Mikolaj snaps at her.“Our commitment to our work rivals that of an emergency room.” She claps back in a mockingly professional tone and I am wondering if I should laugh or be wary of her statement. “Plus, do you want to die of internal injuries?”“Yeah man… We need to make sure the person paying us doesn’t drop dead,” the guy with the dislocated shoulder croaks, eliciting a round of chuckles from the others. “I feel fine,” Miko mutters, sulking.“She needs some privacy, and you need an ultrasound.” With that, she rushes into a room with the man who has a bull
Ride. - Mikolaj - .“All clear.” The Merce ahead of me says after a quick sweep of the room. A brief glance behind tells me the man limping along with me is losing his strength. “Stay here and make sure no one comes from behind,” I tell him. We both know it’s unlikely—everyone in this building is either dead or incapacitated. Still, I would rather he conserve his energy than exhaust himself before the mission is over. We’re not safe until we’re out.“How is it going?” Raylan asks over my ear piece and I grunt.“Not sure if she is here,” I reply, keeping my focus on the bodies lying down. My urge to drill another bullet in each of their heads is strong, but there’s no point in disrespecting the dead, especially when it would invite more legal complications than we already have.“Fuck.”My heart hammers in my chest as I ask, “What?”“Yours is the only team having some action. Rest of the sites were… Not the one,” he says with a slight pause.Based on the analysis of the sunlight and
110. Rescue . - Riley - . My hands tremble as I grab the door handle and pull. It doesn’t budge. Did West come back, or is it just the seven of us under attack? A small part of me wonders if it's the police. I have no choice but to wait and watch my luck unfold. So I do that. I sink in a corner and flinch with each gunshot. Rapid sharp cracks make my heart jump as I realize someone is firing an automatic rifle. This can't be a rescue mission. Considering the chaos outside I will definitely die before the night ends. Chewing on my lips, I glance towards the bathroom and consider. I should try 911 again. My legs are weak beneath me as I tiptoe inside and lift the lid off the toilet tank. I reach in and feel the cold plastic of the phone. Next, I go to the mattress and lift the edge just enough to grab the folded piece of tissue that hides the unused pregnancy test. I shove the test into my pocket, promising myself If I survive this night, first thing I will do is take the test. My
. - Riley - .Thankfully, I am already on the move to put the toilet tank lid back on when Scarlett slams the door open.“What did you do?” she demands.“One of them grabbed me… I- I just reacted,” I say, reaching to flush, praying that the flimsy plastic bag somehow saves the phone.She nods, her expression unreadable as she turns on her heel. “Come with me.”Her silence makes my heart thump and I follow her down the hallway, my mind racing. “Scar?” I ask in a small voice.“You could have come to me!” she snaps. “Reed is trying to seal a deal with them, and the man you attacked is someone important.” She is quiet for a moment, breathing hard as she asks, “Seriously, tell me, are you seeking trouble for no reason?”“I am NOT!” I defend myself, my anger rising. How could she say that to me? “He was groping me. What am I supposed to do? Let him feel me?” “As long as he is not screwing you without payment, I don’t see a problem. Get down on your high horse and focus on keeping your head
. - Riley - .As West locks the door from outside, I turn and my eyes meet the stare of security camera, its red blinking light taunting me. Is Mikolaj really watching or is West just playing mind games? Doesn’t matter. I am pissed at both of them. West kidnapped me, but Mikolaj... He literally forced me to live with him so I would be miserable.“Does my misery make you delighted, Mr. Josef?” Slight shake of my head I add, “I fucking hate you… Hate that you used me to get your stupid revenge.” I know he cannot hear me, but if he could, would he even care? Turning on my heel, I stroll into the bathroom. As my hand grips the cold knob, the rage drains away, leaving the hollow ache. My emotions are a chaotic mess, bouncing between hurt and fury. I should blame the sex party West forced me to stay in. The atmosphere of lust and excess made my eyes bleed. Figuratively. Then he had the nerve to ask for a kiss. And the worst part… First thought that crossed my mind was how Mikolaj would re
Deal. - Mikolaj - .“They will try to squeeze you dry, Miko. This 10k stunt was just to put you at ease with the idea of spending money. I know you’re stressed, and this is why you need to consult others before spending any more money,” Raylan says as he pulls over in front of Camilla’s house. Apparently, paparazzi are still lingering around my house, hence Camilla brought her here.“I will also look for an expert who can advise us on negotiations. If they contact during the night—which we both know is highly unlikely—ask me or Camilla first. Don’t decide anything alone.”I’m too exhausted to show my annoyance. So I simply nod and grab my bag to walk inside. House is dark with a dim glow pouring from the laptop on dining table. Camilla is sitting there, clenching a tissue in her fist.“Camilla?” She closes the laptop and straightens her back.“Took you a while…” she asks in a strange voice.“Yea,” I reply, my eyes searching her face. She seems somewhere between upset and composed.“I
Ping. - . Mikolaj . - .Raylan kicks on the door, and with a loud thud it slams against the wall. I stroll inside and look around for the occupants. Then I see him. Victor glued to the couch, startled. “About time,” I say as he gets up and takes a run towards the door.Raylan blocks his way, pushing him back inside.“Wh- What do you want this time?” Victor asks as Raylan nudges him one more time as he stumbles onto the carpet.“Camilla told me about your polite comment a few hours ago,” I sneer at him. “We were curious what it meant.”After my meeting with Jacob and Natalie, I got an interesting call from Camilla and I took flight back here immediately. Since the website Jacob told me about is inaccessible, I am hoping to find some answers here. “I-I meant no offense.”The door knocks and Camilla’s voice comes through. “Are you guys in there?” Raylan lets her in and her eyes widen, seeing Victor. “Where the fuck are your clothes?” Then she frowns, her eyes searching for something. “
Party of sorts - 2. - . Riley . - .I had asked West last night if he had contacted anyone, but he didn’t spit out a word either.“Why are you here, Tank? Do you need something?” Scar says as before I can ask Tank anything.“A blow job,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes. I know he is talking to Scarlet, but his fixed gaze at me pisses me off beyond no explanation.“Try that and I will bite it off. Then maybe shove it in your mouth,” I grit through my teeth.His face contorts with anger as he strides towards me. Scarlett rushes between us, creating a barrier while my fingers twitch to grab the knife on the counter behind me.“West won’t be happy if you create a mess in here.”“He isn’t my fuckin boss.” He snarls.“Even others won’t be happy. This is an important meeting, Tank. Please… Calm down.”With a jerk, he grabs Scarlet’s hand and backs away. “Join us for the party or die in the kitchen, but you cannot leave this area until the party is over.”“I was looking forward to attend