Alec’s POVShe leaned back with an air of confidence, her legs crossed, her arms draped over the armrests like she belonged there. She looked effortlessly stunning in a black mini dress that hugged her figure in all the right places. Alec’s eyes briefly roamed over her bare legs, the way the fabric rode up slightly as she shifted—He cut off that train of thought immediately, keeping his expression impassive.“You wanted something?” His voice was cool, professional.Kehlani stood, slowly, and walked toward him, her heels clicking softly against the floor. She moved with a deliberate grace, closing the space between them.Alec kept his posture relaxed, his hands in his pockets. If she thought she could get under his skin, she was mistaken.“I want to set up my business,” she said, tilting her head. “And since we have a deal, I need you to play your part.”Alec arched a brow. “Meaning?”“Meaning,” she said smoothly, “I need money. Investment, if you will.”His jaw tightened slightly. He
Kehlani’s POVI gripped the steering wheel of Alec’s Mercedes-Benz jeep, my fingers drumming against the leather. The conversation with Alec replayed in my head, over and over, like an annoying song I couldn’t shake off.He wanted me. He had admitted it.A smirk tugged at my lips. Of course, he did.I exhaled and focused on the road, weaving through the traffic in Manhattan. The city was alive with its usual chaos—honking cars, impatient drivers, pedestrians jaywalking like they had nine lives. The streetlights reflected against the sleek hood of the car, and for a moment, I let myself enjoy the quiet.Away from Alec. Away from Cassandra’s glares. Away from the suffocating game of pretending.The traffic light ahead turned yellow, and I slowed down, easing the car to a smooth stop as it flicked to red.Then—A jolt. A sharp, sudden bump from behind.My whole body snapped forward against the seatbelt, and a string of curses slipped past my lips before I could stop myself.“What the hel
Kehlani’s POVI pushed open the front door of the penthouse and stepped inside, letting out a long breath. The day had been a whirlwind—between Alec’s cryptic confessions and the absolute disaster of running into Finn and Natalie, my mind was a tangled mess.The soft sound of a television echoed from the living room. I slipped off my heels, flexing my toes in relief, and followed the sound.There she was.Natalie Silver.Not the Natalie who had ruined my life. No, this was Alec’s assistant, the one who—despite sharing a name with my personal nightmare—was surprisingly tolerable.She was sprawled on the couch, legs tucked beneath her, a blanket draped over her shoulders. A half-eaten bowl of popcorn sat on the coffee table. She looked far too comfortable for someone who was usually running around, handling Alec’s impossible demands.She glanced up as I entered.“Well, look who finally decided to come home,” she said, tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth.I arched a brow. “You live
Kehlani’s POVI lay in bed, my fingers tracing lazy patterns against the silk sheets as I listened to the quiet hum of the city outside. The penthouse was dark except for the faint glow of the bedside lamp, casting warm golden hues across the room. Alec was late. Again.Not that I was surprised. Work had a way of keeping him occupied, but tonight, I wanted him here. With me.I turned onto my side, eyeing the door like it would magically swing open any second. My patience was wearing thin. He’d promised he wouldn’t be long, and yet, the clock kept ticking.Just as I was about to give up and fall asleep, I heard it—the soft click of the front door opening, followed by the faint sound of his footsteps.Finally.The bedroom door creaked open, and there he was. Alec Castor. Tall, composed, but looking undeniably exhausted. His dark green eyes met mine, and for a moment, he simply stood there, taking me in.“You’re awake,” he murmured, shutting the door behind him.I propped myself up on my
Alec’s POVI paced in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse, my fingers gripping my phone so tightly I could hear the plastic casing creak. The city skyline stretched endlessly beyond the glass, but I wasn’t seeing any of it. My mind was fixated on one thing.Kehlani was missing.It had been hours since Natalie called, and every minute that passed without a lead felt like a slow knife twisting into my gut.Rowan stood by the entrance, arms crossed, his usual composed demeanor unwavering despite the tension crackling in the air. He was dressed in his signature black, his sharp gaze locked onto me, waiting for instructions."Tell me what you've got," I said, forcing my voice to remain level.Rowan exhaled through his nose. "Security footage from the building is wiped. No sign of forced entry. No unusual visitors before she disappeared. It’s clean, Alec. Too clean."I clenched my jaw. Of course, it was clean. Whoever took her wasn’t some amateur."And the guards downstair
Alec’s POVI stood in front of the security room, staring at the screen displaying the paused CCTV footage from the night Kehlani went missing. My blood boiled. The footage should have shown something—anything—but instead, it was nothing but a blank gap. Someone had tampered with it.Rowan stood behind me, arms crossed, his face unreadable. “Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing,” he said.I exhaled sharply, shoving a hand through my hair. “Natalie.”She was already outside, waiting. I stormed out of the room, my patience hanging by a thread. Natalie barely had time to react before I barked, “Gather all the security guards. Now.”She blinked. “All of them?”“Did I stutter?”Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t argue. She pulled out her phone, calling the guards to meet us in the underground parking lot.Ten minutes later, I stood in front of them—six men lined up, looking uneasy. They should be.I pulled my gun from my holster, the cold metal familiar in my g
Alec’s POVI stared out the window of my penthouse office, the city’s skyline bathed in golden hues as the sun dipped below the horizon. The day had been long, exhausting, and filled with dead ends. I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of frustration pressing against my temples. Kehlani was still missing, and every second she remained gone felt like an eternity.A sharp knock on the door broke through my thoughts. I turned, already knowing who it was before Rowan stepped inside, his expression unreadable.“Well?” I asked, not in the mood for games.Rowan didn’t waste time. “I found him.”My entire body went still. “Where?”Rowan closed the door behind him and stepped forward, dropping a small piece of paper onto my desk. “Dominic’s been hiding out in a private estate just outside the city. It’s secluded, high security, but nothing we can’t handle.”I snatched the paper, scanning the address. My heartbeat quickened, my pulse thrumming with anticipation. This was it.Without hesitat
Alec’s POVIt had been three days since Kehlani’s return, and I was no closer to understanding what the hell had happened to her.Three days of curt responses. Three days of cold stares. Three days of her dodging every single question I asked.And I was done waiting.I had never been a patient man, and I sure as hell wasn’t about to start now. Whatever Dominic had told her—or done to her—had left her acting like a stranger. The Kehlani I knew was sharp, quick-witted, and never afraid to challenge me. Now, it was like she was deliberately keeping me at arm’s length, like she was carrying a secret too heavy to share.I needed answers, and I knew exactly where to get them.Dominic.That’s how I found myself sitting in the VIP section of a high-end club, a glass of untouched whiskey in front of me as I waited. The bass-heavy music from the main floor thrummed beneath my feet, but up here, behind the soundproofed walls, it was nothing more than a dull vibration.The door opened, and Domini
Kehlani’s POVThe flash of Finn’s camera still burned behind my eyelids. Noah’s labored breathing filled the silence between us, each exhale a jagged reminder of what Finn was willing to destroy. Finn pocketed his phone, his smile a blade. “Alec’s going to love this. ‘Wife caught in secret rendezvous with ex-lover.’ The tabloids will feast.” “You’re pathetic,” I spat. The ropes bit deeper as I strained against them. “He’ll see through this. He’ll know it’s staged.” “Will he?” Finn crouched, gripping Noah’s hair and yanking his head back. Noah’s eyelids fluttered, a groan escaping his bloodied lips. “How *convenient* that you’re here, alone, with him. How… *intimate*.” “Let him go, Finn. This is between us.” “Us.” He released Noah and stood, circling my chair. “There *is* no ‘us’ until you admit the truth. You belong with *me*. Not with some corporate puppet who married you out of spite.” “Alec’s ten times the man you are.” Finn’s fist slammed into the wall beside my head
Kehlani’s POVThe warehouse door creaked as I pushed it open, the sound echoing through the hollow space. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows. My pulse hammered in my throat as I stepped inside, my boots scuffing against the concrete. "Noah?" I called out, my voice bouncing off the walls. Silence. Then—a muffled groan. My breath hitched. I followed the sound, weaving between stacks of crates, my hands clenched into fists. And then I saw him. Noah. Tied to a chair, his head slumped forward, his dark hair matted with sweat and blood. His arms were bound behind him, his skin raw where the ropes bit in. *"Noah!"* I rushed forward, dropping to my knees in front of him. My fingers fumbled with the knots, but they were too tight. "Hey—hey, wake up. It's me. It's Kel." He didn’t stir. I pressed two fingers to his neck, relief flooding me when I felt the steady thrum of his pulse. He was alive. Just unconscious. Okay. Okay. Think. I stood, scann
Kehlani's POV“You should go back to bed,” Alec said, his voice low, yet laced with something more than concern—guilt, maybe.I stood frozen in the middle of the living room, phone still clutched tightly in my hand. My palms were damp with sweat. The words on the screen still echoed in my head: I’m watching you now.“I can’t,” I whispered, not trusting my voice to hold up if I said more.Alec moved closer. “I’ll keep tracking the number. I’ll stay up and work through the night.”I turned to look at him, studying his face. He looked so sure—like if he just clicked the right combination of keys, the answer would appear. But this wasn’t a math problem. It was a nightmare.“Alec…” I swallowed hard. “What if they hurt him again tonight?”“I won’t let that happen,” he replied firmly, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I promise you. But you need to rest, Kel. Just for a few hours. You’re running on fumes.”I hated that he was right.I hated that I had no choice.“I’ll try,” I murmur
Kehlani's POVI could barely think. It had been days since Noah went missing, and I felt like I was losing my mind. Sleep was a distant memory, replaced with endless worry and a growing pit of frustration in my stomach. Alec, on the other hand, was buried behind his desk, endlessly combing through files, calls, and whatever else he was doing to track Noah down. But nothing had changed. Noah was still gone.And I was still waiting.When Alec finally returned home that night, his face was lined with exhaustion. He loosened his tie as he walked in, but I didn’t care about how tired he looked. I cared about the fact that he was moving too slowly. That every second wasted was a second Noah spent in some unknown place, alone and afraid.“You’re late.” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t take it back.Alec sighed, rubbing his forehead before setting his briefcase down. “Kelhani, I told you, I’m doing everything I can.”“That’s the problem!” I snapped. “You keep saying that, bu
Kehlani’s POV The café was sleek and modern, a place filled with professionals chatting over espressos and influencers snapping photos of their lattes. It was exactly the kind of place Natalie would choose—trendy, expensive, and a reflection of the success she loved to flaunt.I spotted her instantly. Seated near the window, she was dressed in a cream-colored designer jumpsuit, her perfectly manicured fingers scrolling through her phone as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Meanwhile, my world was falling apart.I marched up to the table, my heels clicking against the tiled floor. Natalie barely looked up before a smirk tugged at her lips. “Well, well. Look who decided to show up. I was beginning to think you chickened out.”I pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. “Where is he?”Her brows furrowed in mock confusion. “He? You’ll have to be more specific, Kehlani. I know a lot of ‘he’s.’”I clenched my fists under the table, willing myself to stay calm. “Noah. Did you take hi
Kehlani's POVThe weight of my phone pressed against my palm, my fingers hovering over the call button as my heart pounded in my chest. Every passing second felt like an eternity. Alec had left to search the surrounding areas, the police had already started their investigation, and I—I needed to do something.Taking a deep breath, I scrolled through my contacts and pressed on Natalie’s name. My thumb trembled as I brought the phone to my ear. It rang once. Twice. Three times.“Kehlani?” Natalie’s voice was sharp with surprise. “What’s wrong? It’s late.”I sucked in a breath. “Natalie, I—” My voice cracked. I cleared my throat and tried again. “It’s Noah. He’s missing.”Silence stretched on the other end before she finally spoke, her tone turning cold with urgency. “What do you mean missing?”I gripped the phone tighter. “He was taking a nap. When I went to check on him, he was gone. I searched the house, the backyard, the street—he’s just…gone.”“Oh my god.” There was a rustling soun
Kehlani’s POV The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the kitchen as I set the plates on the table. The scent of fresh coffee mingled with the sweetness of syrup-drenched pancakes. Across from me, Noah swung his legs back and forth, his small hands clutching a fork as he absentmindedly pushed his food around the plate.I watched him for a moment before nudging his cup of milk closer. "You're awfully quiet this morning, buddy. Something on your mind?"Noah hesitated, his dark eyes flickering up to meet mine before dropping back to his plate. He let out a small sigh. "I was just thinking about my dad."My heart squeezed at the mention of Alec’s brother. Noah rarely talked about him, and when he did, it was always with that quiet sadness that never quite fit on his young face. I reached across the table and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Do you want to talk about him?"He nodded slowly. "I miss him. A lot. Uncle Alec is great, but it's not the same."
Kehlani's POVThe afternoon light slanted through my apartment window, painting golden stripes across the floor. I had just finished going through some last-minute details for my next pop-up event when my phone vibrated against the table. Alec’s name flashed on the screen.I hesitated for only a second before answering. “Hello?”There was a pause, then his voice came through, steady as always. “Kelhani. I need a favor.”Alec never called unless it was important. I sat up. “What’s wrong?”“It’s about Noah.”My heart tightened. I had always been close to Noah, Alec’s nephew, and knowing he needed me set off an immediate wave of concern. “Is he okay?”“He’s fine,” Alec reassured me. “But my grandmother needs to stay in the hospital for a few days, and there’s no one to stay with him at home. I can’t leave work right now, and I know you two are close.”A rush of emotions filled me. It had been a while since I’d visited Noah, and if he needed me, I wouldn’t hesitate. “I’ll go,” I said imme
Kehlani's POV The café was quiet for a weekday afternoon—just the hum of low conversations and the occasional clink of porcelain. I stirred my latte absently, watching the foam swirl as I waited for Diana. She was late, as usual, but I didn’t mind. It gave me time to think. My phone buzzed. Alec. Meeting ran long. Still at the office. Don’t wait up. I smirked. As if I ever did. “Sorry, sorry!” Diana’s voice cut through my thoughts as she slid into the chair across from me, her designer bag nearly toppling the sugar dispenser. “Traffic was a nightmare. You’d think New York would figure out how to build wider streets by now.” I pushed her untouched cappuccino toward her. “You’re lucky I love you.” She grinned, taking a sip. “Damn right.” Leaning forward, she lowered her voice. “So. Spill. How’s the empire-building going?” I rolled my eyes. “It’s not an empire. Yet.” “Yet,” she repeated, tapping her nails against the cup. “That’s the spirit.” I exhaled, flipping open my