The puzzle of Mindy’s escape persisted, leaving Dylan in the dark, grappling with the mystery that allowed her to slip away undetected.A knock came on the door.‘Come in.’Dwight entered, settling gracefully into a chair opposite Dylan.He produced a pack of cigarettes, extending it toward Dylan.Dylan accepted it, extracting a cigarette, igniting it with a flick of his lighter, and indulging in the smoke that soon enveloped the room.Dwight, sensing Dylan’s foul mood, asked, ‘General Sheppard, not in the best spirits today?’Dylan retorted, ‘Aren’t you in the same boat?’A subtle smile played on Dwight’s lips as he selected a cigarette from the pack.His slender fingers expertly lit it, the room filling with the fragrance of tobacco and a haze of smoke.‘Any updates on Mindy?’‘Not yet,’ Dylan replied after a brief pause. ‘Which is a problem for you. That woman is more cunning than her father. I think she’s the one behind your assassination plot, not Carl. By the way, when do you pl
Elias’s eyes snapped open the moment he heard someone coughing.He sat bolt upright in the chair and turned towards Callie.Her eyes were open.‘Callie! You are awake!’In a haze, Callie recognised Elias’s voice.Struggling, she forced her eyes open, greeted by the familiar sight of a white ceiling—a hospital room.Elias’s hand held hers, his calloused palm brushing against her skin.‘Elias,’ she whispered weakly, her eyes glistening with tears.Her voice, frail, held a hint of disbelief. ‘Am I still dreaming?’The last she knew, Elias was in custody.The Elias before her now felt like a dream, and she doubted her reality.Elias, red-eyed and exhausted, held her hands tightly, reassuring her, ‘Bunny, what are you talking about? Of course I’m real.’Callie sighed. ‘Good…’Relieved, she closed her eyes, slipping back into sleep.‘Callie!’ Elias’s heart skipped a beat, fear gnawing at him.He rushed outside, calling for Jamison and the medical team. ‘Quick, take a look at her. She woke u
Callie drifted in and out of a dream-laden slumber, the ebb and flow of consciousness gently pulling her into the waking world.The enticing fragrance of chicken soup teased her senses, coaxing her from the depths of sleep.Elias had returned, a culinary saviour armed with a thermos of steaming chicken soup. ‘I used the mess hall kitchen to make this for you,’ he announced with a quiet pride.Drawing in a deep breath, Callie’s stomach couldn’t contain its eagerness, emitting a low growl that echoed through the room.‘Callie, tell me, what’s that sound?’ His question, though not a direct accusation, draped her in a blanket of embarrassment.‘Ahem!’ Callie, determined to maintain her composure, responded with a feigned nonchalance.‘I didn’t hear any sound,’ she declared, though the rumblings from her stomach suggested otherwise.She fought to suppress the impending growl, hoping Elias wouldn’t witness this audible betrayal.‘No sound?’ Elias’s raised brow and assertive tone exposed her
Callie felt herself falling into his trap, struggling to maintain a hardened heart as his doting gaze softened her resolve.‘Callie, you’re my wife. We are supposed to share a bed,’ his voice, deep and intoxicating, whispered in her ear.He embraced her tightly, a possessive need evident in his hold.‘Callie, I want you to love me like before. I lied to protect you. But now I realise I was wrong. I promise, no more lies. Please, at least don’t ignore me. It breaks me...’ His eyes, full of affection, revealed vulnerability.Elias, usually so strong, trembled in his plea.His voice carried a hint of regret. ‘I messed up, and damn it, I know it. Are you willing to forgive me?’Callie sighed. ‘Elias, just promise not to pull something like this again.’‘I won’t hurt you with lies anymore,’ he vowed.‘No more lies, Elias. Not even one,’ she declared.‘I swear.’ To seal his promise, he planted kisses on her forehead, eyes, and nose, soothing her turmoil.Dylan’s knock shattered Elias’s plan
Callie, weakened but resilient, looked up as Elias entered the ward.A soft smile played on her lips despite the pain that lingered in her eyes. ‘I was wondering where you disappeared off to.’Elias took a moment to absorb the sight of her, the woman he loved, fighting her way back to health.The bandages on her abdomen marked the physical toll of the recent events, but the warmth in her eyes brought a sense of calm to Elias’s troubled soul.‘Hey, Bunny,’ Elias greeted, his smile genuine as he approached her bedside.He gently took her hand, mindful of her injuries. ‘How are you feeling?’Callie’s eyes sparkled with gratitude. ‘Getting there. The doctors say I’ll make a full recovery with time.’Elias nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of recent events. ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’As Elias shared the shocking truth about General Conway’s betrayal and the revelation about his parents’ deaths, Callie’s expression shifted from concern to disbelief and, ultimately, sorrow
‘Who the hell are you? What are you doing? Let go, mm—’Callie’s protest was silenced by the man’s rough hand clamped over her mouth.Who would’ve thought that after finishing her night shift and returning home, she’d get ambushed right at her doorstep!No black belt in self-defence here, but if this guy thought she’d be easy prey, he was dead wrong!Callie swallowed hard and chomped down on the man’s palm, hoping to inflict some serious pain.To her surprise, the man didn’t even flinch, not even a tiny groan.Instead, he tightened his grip.What was wrong with this guy?Maybe her bite wasn’t quite ‘chompy’ enough?Just as Callie geared up for another bite, she heard approaching footsteps and men’s voices.More accomplices?Since when did muggers operate in groups?A man’s slightly nasal voice said, ‘I just got word from HQ. He killed Viper! This time, we can’t let him slip away.’‘Don’t worry! He’s wounded, ain’t going far.’‘But if he does escape, we’re screwed!’…Callie’s heart po
Despite her distaste for his cold, domineering manners, Callie couldn’t stand by and watch him bleed to death.Besides, there was a certain fearlessness in his actions, a determination to shield her from harm.Callie sighed, giving in to her better judgment.Suppressing the urge to leave him behind, she decided to carry him back to her place.Despite the cool, drizzling autumn night, beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she struggled under the weight of his unconscious body.By the time she manoeuvred him onto the bed, her face glistened with perspiration, and she was panting heavily.But Callie didn’t allow herself much rest.She bent down, pulling out the emergency medical kit stowed beneath the bed.Initially, she had planned to rip open his blood-soaked shirt just as he had done to hers, but her strength failed her.With a sigh, she resorted to cutting his shirt open with a pair of scissors.As Callie glanced down, she was met with a sight that almost drew a wolf whistle from
Elias’s eyes zeroed in on a dark bruise marring her pale wrist.It was a stark reminder of the pain he had caused her unintentionally, when his mind was fogged by agony.Elias touched her wrist, feeling guilty.Though she didn’t recognise him, he remembered her very well.He couldn’t resist the urge to caress her lips gently, savouring the memory of their sweet taste from last night.But his touch interrupted Callie’s peaceful slumber, and she responded by biting down on his finger in annoyance.Surprisingly, the sensation sent a jolt of arousal through Elias, his body instinctively responding before his mind could process the complex mix of emotions coursing through him.Reluctantly, Elias withdrew his hand.He got out of bed and stood.She was still wearing the same blouse from the night before.Its back was ripped open, exposing her fair skin to his view.Elias swallowed hard and forced himself to look away, a difficult task.At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a little exa