74. Superficial>Blood thunders in my ears as my mind throws a million possibilities. His name. His name.. His name…Dad wouldn’t like it. There is no way I can tell him. Mom will eventually learn and she wouldn't be happy either. I don’t want to see her reaction when she figures it out. I cannot bear her subtle, judgemental eyes. Her ‘only if you had listened to me’ look. It would be a disaster.“Riley?” Dad says and I meet his gaze. “Are you okay?”His voice seems to come from far, far away. I am not sure if I can speak. My hands shiver and I clench my fists to numb the needles poking in my palms. This is not good. I need to go to my room. I take a deep inhale, to keep my voice steady and say, “I will figure it out, dad.”“God! Riley, let me help you.” His voice is a little agitated this time.This is a thing about mum and dad. They don’t trust me to deal with my mess. And no matter how supportive he is right now, he will freak out when he figures out that the so-ca
75. Photo album>“Are these your highschool photos?” I exclaim, and he chuckles.“Yeah..” “Where was this treasure?” I gape as I turn pages, staring at each image in complete awe. My heart melts when I see mom standing in front of a vintage car, her laughter echoing through the faded image. She is wearing a denim jacket adorned with patches from a bygone era. “She looks so happy,” I remark, a mixture of awe and nostalgia coloring my voice. “And somewhat just like me.”“That she does…”I flip through more pages, trying to spot them. Their youthful appearance makes them hardly recognizable. Faded, yellow snapshots are to blame. As I continue flipping through the album, I discover more candid shots of them at school events, goofy moments with friends, and a picture of the day they graduated. I am thankful I got my hands on this. “I am keeping it,” I declare and Dad laughs.“As you wish. But scan it before taking it into your room.”I can spot some of mum’s former friend
76. Ramsey Adams>The car hums softly as we navigate the familiar streets leading to Grandpa’s house. Dad glances at me through the rearview mirror, a smile playing on his lips. He grumbled when mom sat with me on backseat instead of accompanying him in front. Now he has simply accepted he has to play the driver for the night. “I am happy you came home. I hope you enjoyed your time as much as we did….” Mom says, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. It pops right back into my face and I beam at her. Dad snorts. “You got free labor. Of course you are happy.”Her eyes dance with amusement, and I chuckle. “It was great, Mom. Just what I needed – some change of scenery and home-cooked meals.” All that work was a welcome distraction. I threw myself into packing and helping mom to keep my mind off Mikolaj. To some extent, it worked, but my emotions surged often.“You’re not falling behind at college, are you? Missed lectures, assignments?” he asks with a hint of concern in hi
77. Crisis>“We need to address the budget overruns,” Marcus comments, looking at the numbers on screen and I glare at him. Every time he opens his mouth, I get annoyed beyond words. This unproductive meeting has been dragging on for hours, and my patience is running thin. His presence has been irking me lately. Riley Adams was assigned to his team. I haven’t seen her since that damned phone call.“It would be nice if, for once, you recommend a solution, not a problem, Marcus.” The room falls into an uneasy silence as I glance across the table. “One week! Resolve this or next meeting’s agenda would be—if we should dissolve your team or not. That would be a nice way to save budgets. Don’t you agree?”….“You are not in a good mood lately….” Camilla comments as I’m making my way into the lift. Her lips are pressed in disapproval. “Am I ever in a good mood? I thought that was the reason you were eager to get out of this company.” I taunt her, pressing the button to my fl
78. Audacity>I had so much to offer it would have blown his fuckin mind. That day, I didn’t even go to my room and headed straight to his doorstep. I cried on way to Michigan and thought I should leverage my rage. I was resolved to unleash my fury. The only problem… He went away. It’s been three days and Mikolaj isn’t back yet. I am afraid caring for his daughter is placating my anger.Right now, I am cradling her in my lap, trying to put her to sleep. I do not know how he did this, but Jonas and I struggled to put her to bed for past two nights. Jonas gave up and told me to try first, which is a surprise. Because he rarely leaves me alone. My guess—Mikolaj asked him to monitor me. Out of sheer necessity, Miko asked me to watch Jessie. I wonder how much Jonas knows. Everything? Some of it? Or nothing at all? He is acting his usual self. I cannot help but feel bitter towards him anyway. So I do not talk to him unless absolutely necessary.Jessie’s eyes are heavy with s
79. She knows > The ride home is silent as I try to steal a few minutes of sleep. What happened in Poland was completely unexpected. Took me all my control to stir things in Antoni’s favor. He was pleased, but intel gained during this visit was unsettling. “Is dad okay? He wasn’t responding to my calls.” Jonas asks casually, but I can hear undertone of concern in his voice. “Even you were hard to reach…” I cannot keep hiding this information. “He got into a minor accident.” It wasn’t an accident, but a deliberate attempt to assassinate him. For once, Antoni didn’t want to bother Jonas. He admitted, feeling relieved that his son was away from the conflict. His statement made me realize he was in deep shit. That was the only reason I stayed to help him out. “WHAT? Is he okay?” “He is fine.. but has some stitches on face. It was hard for him to talk.” Jonas shakes his head, letting out a bitter laugh. “As always, you believed it was wise to keep this information fr
Revenge>“Not everyone is twisted like you,” she snarls and I tsk.How naive.“Are you sure?” I mock her, walking towards my desk. Ramsey didn’t mind. So Garrett could do it too. “It wouldn’t be the first time Adam’s using their kid as bait.” I wince as I bend to grab some pills. Something is wrong. Maybe I should have asked Jonas to take me to the emergency room instead. Taking a seat, I look around my desk. Riley has created a mess here. Ignoring everything, I fix my gaze at her.Garrett wouldn’t have let her come to Michigan if she had told him about me. My guess is he doesn’t know yet or maybe he does… After popping one pill out of bottle, I put a cigarette between my lips and say, “Take a seat, Riley. It’s going to be a long night.”She shakes her head in disbelief. “You don’t have any remorse or an ounce of shame…” she adds after a quick pause, making her way to the door. “I don’t need to talk to you.”I press the button down on my table and it locks the ro
81. Szef Mafii… Young Mikolaj …– 20 years ago –.“I need to know there isn’t some slaughter going on in my own fuckin house,” I burst at Philip as he glances towards my home in uncertainty. “I will go in. If I don’t come back. Call the cops.”I watch him from a distance as he knocks at the door. The ongoing argument inside the house subsides. My heart is beating fast, expecting the worst, but nothing happens as Philip simply disappears into the house. Is that a good sign?I have no idea who opened the door. It can’t be my family. If that was the case, Philip would have returned to take me with him. I glance at my watch, unable to stay still as a million questions swirl around in my mind. How long has this been going? Is this why Antoni called me this morning? How come the neighbors haven't called the cops? Maybe they think it’s just a family feud… I glance at the windows of the house I am standing next to. It looks like they aren’t at home.Five minutes pass then another five. My f
. - 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