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. ______________
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
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
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
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
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 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
“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
Leo’s lips twitched, but he didn’t dare smile. Instead, he leaned closer, his free hand brushing a stray strand of hair from her damp forehead. “You’re doing great, Susan. You’ve got this.”The hours dragged on. The contractions came faster and harder, and each one seemed to drain Susan’s strength. Leo stayed with her the entire time, holding her hand, whispering reassurances, even snapping at a nurse when she wasn’t quick enough with the ice chips.Finally, the doctor returned, checking Susan again. “You’re fully dilated. It’s time to push.”Susan’s heart raced. She looked up at Leo, fear flickering in her eyes.“You can do this,” he said firmly, his hands cradling her face for a moment. “I’m right here.”The room transformed into a flurry of activity. Nurses positioned themselves, the doctor gave instructions, and Susan braced herself.“Okay, Susan, with the next contraction, I need you to push,” the doctor instructed.The pain was overwhelming, but Susan gritted her teeth and pushe
An hour later, Leo’s men drove Vince, unconscious, to an abandoned warehouse on the edge of town. They positioned him in a chair surrounded by stacks of counterfeit bills, the bag of drugs on the table, and the pistol in his lap.Leo observed every detail, ensuring there was enough evidence to connect Vince to the stolen money and illegal activities. He even had Connor take pictures of the setup to send to an anonymous tip line.“Make sure it looks like he was working alone,” Leo instructed. “The last thing we need is this tying back to us.”Asher nodded and set about wiping down any trace of their presence.Once everything was in place, they made the call to the police, disguising their voices as concerned neighbors reporting suspicious activity.Hours later, Leo sat alone in his study, a glass of whiskey in hand as the news played on the television. The headline read: “Local Man Arrested in Connection to Counterfeit Money Operation.” Vince’s mugshot appeared on the screen, his face
There was a brief pause on the other end before Asher replied, “Understood. We’ll keep him... comfortable until you arrive.”Leo ended the call without another word, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He downed the last of his whiskey, the burn of it barely registering as his mind focused on what needed to be done. Vince had made a fatal mistake, and Leo was about to remind him—and everyone else—why crossing him was a mistake no one survived. He'd let Vince go the first time, and now he was going to finish the job. He flicked the cigarette over the balcony railing, watching the ember fall until it vanished into the night. He turned toward the door, ready to head inside, when he froze at the sight of Susan standing there. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her eyes were filled with anger and something else—disappointment.“How long have you been standing there?” he asked, his voice flat, though his jaw tightened.“Long enough,” Susan snapped, stepping onto the balcony. Th
Asher hesitated for a split second, then gave a curt nod. “Understood.”Without another word, Asher turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. Leo sat in silence for a moment, his thoughts swirling. Susan’s rejection, Abruzzi’s attack, Vince’s betrayal—it was all fuel for the fire already raging inside him. He glanced at the gun in his hand, then set it down carefully on the table.His empire was under attack, and Leo Spencer wasn’t the kind of man to let that go unanswered. The game had just changed, and he was going to make sure everyone involved understood one thing: no one crossed him and got away with it.____________The muffled thud of footsteps echoed in the dimly lit parking lot as Asher and Connor moved quickly, their eyes scanning the deserted space. Vince was leaning casually against his car, a cigarette dangling from his lips, utterly oblivious to the trap closing in around him.“Stay sharp,” Asher whispered to Connor, his hand resting lightly on the gun holst
The routine was the same every morning—he’d come in, announce he was leaving, and then disappear for the day. It irritated her to no end, and today, the irritation boiled over.“Got it. Please leave,” she said bluntly, pulling the duvet up to her chin as if to shield herself from his indifference.Leo frowned, his calm demeanor cracking slightly. “Excuse me? I’m only trying to be helpful.”Susan let out a humorless laugh. “Helpful? This is helping? Leaving me here every day while you run off to your club to play crime boss? Doing things that could put you in danger… How exactly is that supposed to help?”Leo’s eyes narrowed. “I’m surprised you care so much about my safety,” he retorted, his tone sharp.“I don’t,” she shot back, throwing the duvet off her legs. She swung her feet to the floor, determined to storm past him, but her body betrayed her. Moving was harder than she’d anticipated, and she struggled to push herself up.Before she could protest, Leo was at her side, his hands f
“So... when do you think we should tell Susan about us?” Samuel asked as he casually buttoned up his shirt.Caroline froze mid-motion, his question hitting her like a ton of bricks. She turned to stare at him, her expression a mix of shock and incredulity, as if he’d just suggested something completely absurd. “Why would we tell her anything?” she asked, her tone sharper than she intended.Samuel frowned, clearly caught off guard. “Why wouldn’t we?” he countered, his voice tinged with confusion.Caroline turned away, unable to meet his eyes. She felt her pulse quicken as she muttered, “Because there’s nothing to tell.”For a moment, Samuel stood there, stunned into silence. But as her words sank in, the weight of what she was saying hit him hard. He recognized this feeling—an ending he hadn’t been prepared for. And if it was going to happen, she’d have to face him when she did it.He crossed the room in a few swift steps and placed his hands firmly on her shoulders, gently but insiste
He didn’t know how to process the ache twisting in his chest. He wanted to hold her, to wipe away her tears, but his own frustration and hurt held him back. Instead, he stepped away, his expression unreadable.After a long, heavy pause, he said, “Will you at least consider moving in? Just until the baby comes. You shouldn’t be alone during this last month. After the birth, you can find your own place when you’re ready.”She hesitated, the thought of being alone during labor and the final stretch of her pregnancy weighing heavily on her. She didn't want to be alone. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. Until the baby comes.”“Good,” he said curtly. “I’ll have my driver take you home. You should start to pack your things tomorrow.”Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Susan standing there, her arms wrapped protectively around herself, tears streaming silently down her cheeks._______________Samuel felt warmth and soft against him. He shifted his weight toward the
Susan stepped closer to the crib, running her fingers over the smooth wood. “This must have taken so much time. I didn’t even know you were doing this.”“I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said, moving to stand beside her. He rested a hand lightly on her lower back, his touch grounding her as she took it all in.Susan turned to him, her heart full. “Leo, this is the most thoughtful, amazing gift anyone has ever given me.”His lips curved into a small smile, his eyes softening as he looked at her. “I just wanted you to know that I’m all in, Suzy. For this whole parenting thing. I want to give it a try… And do it right.”She didn’t know what to say, so she simply stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered into his chest.Leo held her close, resting his chin lightly on her head. That close to his lean, powerful body, Susan could smell the distinctive scent of his skin, an intoxicating mixture of citrus overlaying husky male, and as she
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said softly, though there was a flicker of curiosity in his expression. “You're already giving me enough,” Susan shrugged lightly, sitting back down in her armchair. “I wanted to. Just open it.”Leo pulled at the ribbon, unwrapping the paper with surprising care, as if he wanted to savor the moment. When he lifted the lid of the box, his expression froze for a second before softening.Inside was a sleek wristwatch—silver with a black leather strap. The minimalist design was elegant but not ostentatious, exactly his style. Beside it, nestled in a small compartment, were cufflinks engraved with his initials: L.S..For a moment, Leo said nothing, his eyes fixed on the gift. Susan began to fidget, suddenly unsure of herself. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like it,” she said quickly, her voice tinged with nervousness. “I just thought… well, you always wear cufflinks when you're dressed all ‘bossy’ you know, and I noticed you liked them so—”“I love it,” L