Susan turned slowly to face him, her heart hammering in her chest. His eyes were dark, burning into hers, and the tension between them flared to life once more, crackling in the air like electricity. He was too close—close enough that she could feel his breath on her skin, smell the faint scent of whiskey and something darker, something dangerous.Susan nodded, her throat too tight to form words. She couldn’t trust her voice, couldn’t trust herself to speak without giving away just how rattled she was by his presence. Leo’s gaze flicked down to her lips for the briefest of moments before he stepped back, breaking the spell between them. Without a word, he opened the door. Connor was already standing there, his expression neutral but watchful.Leo’s voice cut through the silence. “Connor, please walk her to her car.”Connor nodded, and without looking back at Leo, Susan stepped into the hallway, her heart still pounding. As Connor led her away, she could feel Leo’s eyes on her back, th
I’ll return them tomorrow. Get the real money back.That was the plan. She had to stick to the plan. But deep down, she knew this was only the beginning. Leo wouldn’t stop at five thousand. He’d expect more. And as much as she wanted to scream, to run from it all, she knew she couldn’t. Not while Samuel was still tangled in Leo’s Web, and now so was she. As she finally pulled into her driveway, Susan sat in the car for a moment, her hands still gripping the steering wheel, her heart pounding in her chest. She was in too deep now, and there was no turning back.____________The Summit nightclub was eerily silent when Susan walked in. The usual pulse of loud music and vibrant chatter was absent, replaced by an unsettling stillness. The place was empty—no patrons, no bartenders buzzing around. She walked on, her heels clinking against the floor as she began to climb the stairs that led to the private lounge. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was in the right place, but then h
As the bartender nodded and began mixing her drink, Susan’s mind raced. She was playing a dangerous game with Leo, and she knew it. But every time she thought she was ready to walk away, something pulled her back. Maybe it was the fear of what would happen to Samuel. Maybe it was something else. Something about him.The bartender placed her drink in front of her, and Susan took a long sip, the alcohol burning its way down her throat. The buzz settled into her veins, calming her nerves for a brief moment. But the tension was still there, lingering just beneath the surface. And deep down, she knew it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. __________Leo hadn’t expected Susan to take him up on his offer, not with how furious she’d been when she stormed out of the lounge. But as he watched her from the shadows, standing there at the top of the stairs, he noticed something flicker in her. Her steps faltered, and instead of heading straight for the door like she had intended, she veered toward t
She could feel him watching her as she walked to the doorway, a tingle of awareness down her spine, telling herself she mustn't look back, that she shouldn't give him that satisfaction. It was a compulsion, instinct, and she paused in the doorway to turn and look at Leo one more time.Leo was ordering himself another drink, his attention turning to Susan as he saw her standing in the doorway watching him. He gave her a mocking acknowledgement with his head, laughter in his eyes as Susan gave him a fierce glare before turning away.She was still fuming when she swung into her car, her bag landing with a thud on the seat beside her. Who did he think he was, trying to pick her up in that way! Especially after everything he'd done. No man had ever tried to pick her up in a bar before. Or so nearly succeeded! If she was being honest with herself, she'd admit that there was something about Leo that was extremely appealing, his rakish charm a challenge, his almost casual confidence in his o
“What does it all mean?” She frowned when he at last straightened, wiping his hands on a cloth from his pocket.The young man shrugged. “It means I'm going to have to tow your car back to the garage and work on it there.”That's what she had thought it meant! “Thank you,” she sighed. “I suppose I'd better go and call a taxi—”“No need for that,” cut in a voice that really was beginning to grate on her nerves.Susan turned to Leo with icy eyes. “What?” she bit out resignedly.He strolled over to join them, enjoying a few minutes' consultation with the mechanic about her car before acknowledging her presence once again. “I'll drive you home,” he stated arrogantly. “I have my car over there.” He nodded in the direction of his car.“Like hell—”“Whew, some of these women aren't at all as cool and ladylike as they all like to make out,” he confided in the mechanic. “They aren't forgiving either.”“What—”“I offer to drive her home as an olive-branch after our argument and she throws it ba
“I want to see you naked, Suzy,” he told her gruffly as one of his hands moved to the zip on her jumpsuit, “Naked and wanton!” She felt hot, feverish—she was making out with Leo! Had she forgotten who he was? “No!” She pulled out of his arms, her expression one of panic as he reached for her again. “Let me go,” she instructed coldly.Puzzlement darkened his eyes at her vehemence, but he sat back in his own seat, his hands held up defensively. “Think all you want of me, but I've never tried to force a woman,” he assured her raggedly.She knew he had never needed to, that his brand of lovemaking could become addictive. “I know that,” she conceded shakily, shaking back the swathe of her hair. “I—it was a mistake, that's all.”Leo shook his head, his eyes steely. “I don't make mistakes, Suzy. I want you. And a minute ago you wanted me too—”“No,” she denied heartedly. “I told you, it was a mistake. I have to go in now.” She swallowed hard, wishing she had found the strength to go in ear
The bottle slipped from her fingers, landing with a soft thud on the counter. Her heart lurched into her throat as she spun around, eyes wide.Leo.He stood in the doorway of her kitchen, casually leaning against the frame, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. His dark eyes were locked on her, that same predatory look she’d seen before, as if he enjoyed watching her squirm.“Jesus Christ, Leo!” she gasped, clutching the counter to steady herself. Her pulse was racing, the sudden rush of adrenaline making her lightheaded. “You really have to stop doing that. What the hell are you doing here? How did you even get in?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his eyes swept over the room, taking in every detail, as if he owned the place. He stepped forward, his gaze returning to her, amusement dancing in his eyes. “So many questions. I have my ways,” he said smoothly, walking further into the kitchen. “You look like you’ve been busy.”She stared at him, her heart still pounding in h
He still held her arm, and although his touch had been a bit rough when he grabbed her, it was gentler now, and Susan could feel his thumb moving so softly against her skin. It was weird how his touch could go from fierce to tender in seconds, just as it had when they kissed. Firm, yet not unkind. With the kind of man he was, she'd have expected him to be… Well, rough.“Why did you regret your response?” he asked again, his dark eyes trained on Susan’s face. “Why regret something you clearly enjoyed?”She felt the heat radiating from him, an intensity that sent a rush of conflicting emotions through her—fear, frustration, and something far more dangerous she couldn’t name.“I regret that night because,” she began, her voice low but steady, trying to meet his gaze without faltering.A flicker of something unreadable passed over Leo’s face when she paused again. “Why?” he pressed, his tone deceptively casual. “It was just a kiss. Why does it bother you so much?”Susan’s breath caught. T
“So… How are you feeling?” Samuel asked Susan after she dropped off their mother at his apartment one evening. Susan stopped short. He had offered to walk her to her car, but there was something in his voice—a knowing edge—that sent a ripple of nerves through her. Susan shot him a glance, “Mom told you, didn't she?” she asked gently. Samuel nodded, his expression both apologetic and concerned. “Yeah, she did.” Susan exhaled, a mix of relief and apprehension washing over her. She’d been dreading this conversation, but now that it was happening, she realized she was grateful she didn’t have to find the words to break the news herself. She braced herself for the questions she knew were coming next. They got to her car, and Susan turned to face her brother. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Samuel asked, his voice tinged with hurt. “I mean, I know I’m not the easiest person to deal with sometimes, but this…” He paused, searching for the right words. “This is something… beautiful, Suzy.” H
Susan nodded, taking a sip of water to avoid further scrutiny. “Yeah, just a lot going on.” Samuel chimed in, changing the subject. “Mom, she's doing so well at work. With the way she's always busy, I bet she’s going to be running the place in no time.” Susan shot her brother a grateful look. “Hardly. But thanks for the vote of confidence, Sam.” The conversation shifted again, moving to Elizabeth's plans for the week and Samuel’s idea of signing up for a cooking class. Susan laughed along, grateful for the reprieve from any personal questions. Samuel left for the kitchen and reappeared with dessert, and the mood lightened even more. When dinner was over, he insisted on cleaning up, while Susan and their mother went up to the living room to talk. “You seem carried away by your thoughts,” Elizabeth told Susan when they were finally seated and alone in the living room. “I do?” Susan asked in astonishment. Clearly she'd not done a good job of hiding her feelings properly. “Yes, y
Susan set the plate of rice, stew, and salad in front of her brother and turned to fetch a bottle of wine and a glass. By the time she turned back, Samuel was already halfway through his first bite, chewing with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Wow, at least pretend to have some self-control,” Susan said with a smirk, placing the wine on the table. “You act like you haven't eaten in days,” Samuel didn’t slow down but grinned between bites. “You act like I’ve eaten something decent in the past week,” he said, his words muffled by a mouthful of food. “Seriously, though, I’ve been living off instant noodles and takeout. I barely have time to cook anything worth eating these days. I'm a busy man, you know. I leave for work early and I come back late at night or in the evening, then I repeat the same thing the next day.” “Ever heard of meal prep?” Susan teased, pouring him a glass of wine. He waved her off. “Too much effort. Maybe I should just get myself a wife. Problem solved.” Susan raise
Susan stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, staring at her reflection as if it belonged to someone else. Her usually vibrant complexion was pale, her eyes puffy and shadowed, and her hair hung in disarray, as if it had given up along with the rest of her. In her trembling hand was the pregnancy test kit that seemed heavier than anything she’d ever held. Behind her, Caroline perched on the edge of the bed, her expression a mix of concern and impatience. “Just take it to the bathroom and pee on it, Susan,” she said gently but firmly. Susan turned away from the mirror to glare at her best friend. “I know how it works, Care,” she snapped, though her voice was shaky. “I’m not stupid. I’m just… scared.” Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the test. “What if it’s positive?” Caroline met her gaze with calm resolve, crossing her arms. “Then you deal with it. One step at a time. But you’re not doing yourself any favors by dragging this out.” She tilted her head slightly. “You’re goin
The room fell into a heavy silence. She finally turned back to him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You were right,” she said, her voice trembling. “You were right to push me away. I should’ve listened. I should’ve stayed away.” Leo didn’t move, but she saw the flicker of pain in his eyes. “Susan…” “No,” she interrupted, shaking her head. “This isn’t working. It’s not good for either of us. As much as it hurts to say it, we need to cut ties, Leo. Completely.” She swallowed hard, the words almost choking her. “It’s the only way.” Leo leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. He didn’t argue, didn’t try to convince her otherwise. He just sat there, staring at her like he was memorizing every detail of her face. “I get it,” he said finally, his voice low and rough. “You’re right.” Susan’s heart broke a little more at his calm acceptance. A silly part of her wanted him to fight her on it, to tell her she was wrong, that they could make it work. But deep down, she k
Justin Beck adjusted the rearview mirror, his eyes fixed on Susan’s car as it pulled out of the driveway. “You see that place?” he muttered to his partner, Collins. “Guy’s living like a damn king.” Collins Hallman smirked, his fingers drumming on the dashboard. “Bet the wallpaper in that place costs more than my house.” “Focus,” Justin snapped, watching as Susan’s car turned onto the main road. “This is it. She’s got to be making the drop.” “About time,” Collins said, sitting up straighter. “Vince better not be screwing us over.” “He knows what’s at stake,” Justin replied. “Let’s tail her. Keep it subtle.” They followed Susan’s car at a safe distance, their unmarked sedan blending into traffic. Justin’s grip on the wheel tightened as adrenaline coursed through him. Months of surveillance, countless hours piecing together this case—it all came down to this. “She’s heading downtown,” Collins said, checking the GPS. “Warehouse district, maybe?” “Looks like it,” Justin said, his ey
Her brows furrowed as she processed his words. “Wallpaper?” It sounded like a smart plan, but Susan still had questions. She stared at Leo in stunned silence, her arms crossed defensively. “You’re telling me you’re going to use Vince, the same guy who just betrayed you, to trick the cops?” Leo’s smirk returned, though his tone was all business. “Exactly. Vince may be a lot of things—greedy, reckless—but he’s not stupid. He knows if he screws this up, it’s over for him. He’s desperate to prove he’s still useful.” “And you trust him?” she asked, her voice dripping with skepticism. “I trust that he’s more afraid of me than he is of the cops,” Leo said coolly. “That’s all I need from him. He’ll tell them you’re making a delivery of counterfeit bills. They’ll follow you, hoping for a big bust, but when they search your car…” “They’ll find wallpaper?” Susan interrupted, her brows lifting in disbelief. Leo chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Exactly. Rolls of wallpaper. Compl
Susan almost shot out of her chair in anger, her heart pounding. The only thing that kept her rooted was the dozen eyes in the restaurant that would turn on her if she caused a scene. Still, every fiber of her being wanted to scream at him, to reach across the table and slap that smug grin off his face. Was he insane? Did he seriously think she would let him gamble with her life like this, especially now that the cops were probably watching her every move? “You must be crazy if you think I'm going to let you threaten me into doing anything I don't want to do, Leo.” she hissed, her voice low but venomous, “Is this why you asked me to come here? This—this reckless plan is your solution?” Her hands trembled as she grabbed her bag off the table and rose, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Stay the hell away from me, Leo,” she said, voice cracking with fury, and without giving him a chance to respond, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the restaurant. ______________
“Boss, please—” Vince’s voice cracked as Connor and Asher rose from their seats, grabbing him by the arms. “No! Boss, please! I can fix this!” he screamed, struggling as they dragged him toward the door. Leo followed, his steps slow and measured. When he returned alone fifteen minutes later, his shirt sleeves were rolled up, and his hands were clean. But there was a faint, almost imperceptible smear of red on his knuckles. He sat down at the head of the table, lighting another cigarette, exhaling smoke into the heavy silence. “Now,” he said, his tone brisk, “let’s make sure the cops never get close again.” His mind was racing ahead. He had dealt with the rat, but the damage was done. The cops were on his case, and he needed to find a way to tighten his grip before everything unraveled. __________ “Fancy place for a meet up,” Susan said as she took a seat in front of Leo at the restaurant he'd requested her to meet him at. She'd spent days obsessing about the cops that she though