Hi Rebels, this book is nearing its end. if you're reading to this point, I hope you all could still support this book by sending some gems. I would really appreciate it since it would really help the book get more exposure and more reader to know about the love story of Thiago and Bridgette. hopefully you will read this to the end. I love you my dear Rebels! I look forward to receiving your precious GEMSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! xo
The sleek black car came to a halt just outside the airstrip, the rumble of the engine fading into the tense silence between Thiago and me. My heart pounded as I glanced out the window, taking in the shadowy figures near a private jet.Agatha was there, unmistakable even under the dim lights. Her sharp features and the confident way she moved sent a wave of fury coursing through me. But it wasn’t just her presence that unnerved me—it was the figure stepping down from the jet.A man.Tall, with an air of authority and menace, he carried himself like someone who was used to being obeyed without question. His face was unfamiliar, but something about him made my stomach twist.“Who is that?” I asked, my voice low.Thiago’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles white. “Lucas Hensley,” he said, his voice grim. “He’s the head of the network I’ve been fighting against. And if he’s here… it’s worse than I thought.”“Worse how?”“He doesn’t come out into the open unless he’s about
Marcus’s grip on my arm was unrelenting as he dragged me toward the far side of the airstrip, where a black SUV sat idling. My feet stumbled over loose gravel, my mind still spinning from the explosion and the impossible choice Lucas had thrown at me.“Marcus, what the hell is happening?” I gasped, wrenching my arm free as we reached the car.“Not here,” he snapped, yanking the door open. “We don’t have time, Bridgette. Get in!”I froze, glancing back toward the smoke-filled chaos. Figures moved in the haze—Lucas barking orders, Thiago fighting to break free from the armed men—but Marcus’s urgency pulled me back.“Bridgette!” he barked.Reluctantly, I climbed into the car. The moment the door slammed shut, Marcus floored the gas pedal, and we shot down the darkened road away from the airstrip. I whipped around in my seat, my gaze locked on the rearview mirror, searching for any sign of pursuit.“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, my voice tight with panic and suspicion.“To safety,
The message on Marcus's phone glared back at me like a sinister omen. "We have your father. Time’s up."My knees buckled, and I slumped into the chair as my heart thundered in my chest. The room felt suffocating, the air thick with dread. I had been chasing pieces of a puzzle for so long—Thiago’s secrets, Lucas’s manipulations, Marlene’s schemes—but now the stakes were sharper, and time had run out.Marcus’s voice cut through the haze. “Bridgette, we can’t act rashly. That’s exactly what they want.”I whipped my head toward him, my voice trembling. “They have my father, Marcus! You expect me to sit here while Lucas—”“We don’t know how deep this goes yet,” Marcus interrupted, his voice level but firm. “Thiago’s working to uncover the rest. Going back now, alone, is suicide.”I clenched my fists, standing abruptly. “I don’t care. If anything happens to him—”“Stop.”Marcus grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. His calm exterior was cracking; I could see it in his eyes.“Do y
Time seemed to freeze as Lucas leveled the gun at me, his finger teasing the trigger. My breath caught, my body stiff, paralyzed by the sheer intensity of the moment. Thiago’s voice cut through the chaos like a sharp blade.“Bridgette, stay down!”The roar of another gunshot shattered the air. It wasn’t Lucas who fired—but Marcus. His aim was sharp, his bullet grazing Lucas’s hand. The gun clattered to the ground as Lucas let out a furious snarl, clutching his injured hand.“Get the girl!” Lucas barked to his men, his voice full of venom.Two of them broke from the fray and made a beeline toward me. Thiago moved faster, stepping in front of me like a human shield. His movements were precise and fluid, his punches landing with brutal efficiency.I scrambled backward, clutching the fake documents. My father was slumped against a stack of crates, his breath shallow but alive. Relief surged through me, but it was fleeting—Lucas wasn’t done.“Enough!” Lucas bellowed, his voice echoing thro
The SUVs behind us roared closer, their engines a deep growl that sent chills down my spine. Marcus swerved sharply, trying to shake them off, but they matched every move, determined to catch us.“Thiago,” I hissed, my voice barely audible over the chaos. “What now?”Thiago reached under his seat and pulled out a handgun. His movements were calm, methodical, as if he had done this countless times before. “We fight.”“What?” I gaped at him. “Are you insane? There’s no way we—”“Stay low,” he barked, cutting me off. “Marcus, take the back roads. I’ll handle the rest.”Marcus nodded grimly and yanked the steering wheel to the left, sending the car skidding onto a narrow dirt path. The SUVs followed without hesitation, their headlights cutting through the dense darkness. The bumpy terrain made it harder to keep my balance, but I held on tightly, my heart pounding in my chest.Thiago rolled down his window and leaned out, firing off a series of shots. One of the SUVs veered off course, cras
The revelation of Marlene's involvement sent shockwaves through me. My stepmother—someone I had thought was distant and disinterested—was apparently orchestrating events far more dangerous than I could have imagined. My mind raced, trying to piece together how Marlene fit into the puzzle.Thiago’s grip tightened on the device, his knuckles white. “We need to find a secure place to disable this before the timer runs out,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “And then, we confront her.”I nodded numbly, my thoughts a whirlwind. “Where do we go?”“There’s a safe house nearby,” Thiago replied, already pulling out his phone to send a quick text. “Marcus will meet us there.”The woods around us felt suffocating, each shadow hiding a potential threat. We moved quickly, Thiago keeping me close, his gaze scanning the surroundings. Every crack of a twig or rustle of leaves made my heart leap, but Thiago’s calm presence kept me grounded.Finally, we reached the edge of the woods, where a black ca
The cold night air stung my lungs as Thiago led me through the dense forest. His grip on my hand was firm, almost bruising, but I didn’t complain. The distant sound of shouting and barking dogs sent chills down my spine.“They’re tracking us,” I whispered.“They won’t catch us,” Thiago replied, his voice a mix of determination and fury.We moved swiftly, our footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of pine needles. The device in my arms beeped softly, its persistent glow casting an eerie light. Thiago glanced at it, his jaw tightening.“We’re not out of this yet,” he muttered.Ahead, the forest opened into a narrow clearing. A rusted truck sat abandoned at the edge, its windows smashed and vines curling around the tires.“Stay here,” Thiago instructed, slipping his gun into his waistband as he approached the vehicle.“Is it even working?” I asked, skeptical.He opened the driver’s door, fiddling with wires under the dashboard. Moments later, the engine roared to life, sputtering but stea
The days following our escape from the entity were a blur of planning and paranoia. Thiago and I stayed low in a safe house deep in the mountains, its isolation our only shield. The energy from the encounter lingered in the air like a storm waiting to break, and neither of us could shake the feeling that the entity was watching us even now.Thiago spent hours poring over old files and encrypted notes on his laptop, trying to find any mention of the program or experiment that had unleashed the creature. I tried to distract myself by organizing the sparse supplies in the cabin, but the silence between us was heavy.Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore."You can’t just keep staring at the screen, Thiago," I said, slamming the pantry door. "We need a plan."He didn’t look up. "We’re making a plan.""No," I snapped. "You’re hiding. There’s a difference."His head shot up, eyes narrowing. "You think I’m hiding? After everything I’ve done to keep us alive?""I think you’re avoiding the fact t
The jet cut through the night sky, its engines humming beneath us like a beast biding its time. I sat stiffly in my seat, staring out the window at the endless black void below. The reality of what was happening still hadn’t fully settled.My mother was alive.And she was in Spain.I turned my head, watching Thiago from the corner of my eye. He had leaned back, fingers tapping against his glass in slow, measured beats. His eyes were on me, as if he was waiting for me to break the silence.I refused to give him that satisfaction.Instead, I asked the one question that had been burning in my mind since we took off.“How long have you known?”Thiago’s tapping stopped. He didn’t look away, didn’t flinch. “A few weeks.”A sharp breath left my lips. “A few weeks?” I repeated, my voice cold. “You let me believe she was dead for weeks?”“I didn’t let you believe anything,” he corrected. “I was gathering proof. If I had told you too soon, you would have gone straight to your father and gotten
The private jet hummed softly beneath us, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in my chest. Spain. My mother. The words still didn't fit together in my mind. For years, I had assumed she was dead, lost in the wreckage of my father’s games. And now, she was suddenly alive? Hiding in another country?I gripped the armrest, my nails digging into the leather. “How long have you known she was in Spain?”Thiago didn’t hesitate. “A few weeks.”A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me. “And you just decided to tell me now?”He swirled the last of his drink before setting the glass down with a soft clink. “I told you when it mattered.”“When it mattered to you.”His jaw flexed, but he didn’t deny it. Of course, he wouldn’t. Thiago Bermudez wasn’t the kind of man to offer apologies.I crossed my arms, my body tight with frustration. “You should have told me the moment you knew.”His dark eyes settled on mine, unreadable but heavy with something that made my breath catch. “Would it have changed anythin
Thiago’s words lingered long after he pulled away, their weight settling like lead in my chest.You should have let me handle it.I clenched my fists, refusing to let his voice take root in my head. I had spent years fighting my battles alone, carving my own path despite my father’s suffocating grip. And now, for the first time, I had won. I had backed him into a corner, forced him to sign away what he had stolen.So why didn’t it feel like a victory?I forced a deep breath, turning away from Thiago. “I need a shower.”“Of course you do.” His voice was smooth, calculated. He leaned against the suite’s bar, watching me with an unreadable expression. “You always run when you don’t want to deal with something.”I froze mid-step but didn’t turn around. “I’m not running.”“No?” I heard the ice clink in his glass as he poured himself a drink. “Then look me in the eye and tell me you don’t feel it.”Feel what? The suffocating tension? The invisible noose tightening around my throat? The way
My heels clicked against the polished marble of the lobby, my heart still hammering in my chest. The rush of adrenaline hadn’t worn off yet, but the weight of what had just happened was starting to settle.I had won. I had finally backed my father into a corner, made him sign away the power he had stolen.So why did it still feel like a hollow victory?I pushed the thought away and focused on the present.Thiago followed a few steps behind, silent but watchful. I could feel his gaze on me, tracking every breath, every twitch of my fingers. He was still angry. No, not just angry—furious.And I wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.The moment we reached the car, I yanked the door open, but before I could slip inside, his hand shot out, slamming it shut again.I turned to him, fire flashing in my eyes. “Don’t.”Thiago stepped closer, his body blocking mine from the street, from the world. “You’re shaking.”I clenched my fists. “I’m fine.”His gaze swept over me, slow and calculated, readin
The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. My father’s fingers tapped against the rim of his whiskey glass, his mind working through the implications of what I’d just said. He was a master manipulator, but this time? He had backed himself into a corner.“You don’t have proof,” he said finally, but there was something uncertain in his voice.I leaned against his desk, forcing a smirk. “Oh, but I do.”Lucia’s voice crackled in my earpiece. “We have everything, Bridgette. His authorizations, timestamps, and even the IP addresses he used. All trace back to him.”I didn’t break eye contact. “I have enough to bury you in court. Fraud. Embezzlement. You’d be finished.”His jaw clenched, and for the first time, a flicker of unease crossed his face.Thiago, standing just behind me, chuckled lowly. “She’s not bluffing, Martinez.”I felt the heat of his presence at my back—solid, unwavering. And I hated that some part of me found comfort in it.My father exhaled slowly, setting his
I stormed through the ballroom doors, my heels clicking against the marble as I pressed a hand to my earpiece."Lucia, where’s Victor?" My voice was sharp, betraying none of the unease curling in my gut."Already on it," she replied. "He's pulling up transaction records now. But, Bridgette—""Just tell me."Lucia hesitated. "It looks internal."I froze mid-step.Internal?A chill swept through me. This wasn’t just some competitor hacking our accounts. This was someone inside Martinez Holdings.I pushed forward, ignoring the glances thrown my way as I made my way toward the exit. I needed to get to my office. Now.But then—A hand closed around my wrist.Firm. Possessive. Familiar.I turned sharply, my gaze colliding with Thiago’s. His eyes—dark, unreadable—searched mine."Let go," I said, my voice colder than ice.He didn’t. Instead, he studied me like I was a puzzle he was piecing together."Someone stole from you," he murmured. It wasn’t a question. He already knew.I yanked my wris
The world still saw me as Bridgette Martinez, the woman who clawed her way to the top, but behind closed doors, I was fighting battles that no one could see.Thiago's encroachment wasn’t just financial. It was personal. Everywhere I turned, he was there—at high-profile investor meetings, in the whispers of board members questioning my next move, in the shadow of every deal I tried to secure.And worst of all?He was still in my head.I sat at the head of the table, my expression unreadable as Lucia and Victor debriefed me on the latest developments.Lucia tossed a report onto the table. "Thiago's now the second-largest shareholder in Martinez Holdings."Victor leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "At this rate, it won’t be long before he’s in a position to demand a seat on the board."A chill crawled up my spine. I had spent years making sure no one—not my father, not Cynthia, not any man—could take my power away. And yet, Thiago was tightening his grip without ever raising
I woke up tangled in silk sheets, the ghost of Thiago’s touch lingering on my skin. The city skyline stretched beyond the glass walls of the penthouse, bathed in the pale hues of dawn. For a moment, I let myself savor the illusion of peace.Then reality sank its claws back in.Cynthia was gone, but her words still echoed in my mind. You’ve only traded one cage for another.I turned my head slightly. Thiago was still asleep, his features relaxed in a way I rarely saw. But even in sleep, he exuded control—one arm draped possessively over my waist, his grip loose but firm.Carefully, I slipped out of bed, moving toward the floor-to-ceiling window. The city buzzed below, alive with possibilities and dangers.I wasn’t naive.Thiago’s offer of a merger was strategic, but it wasn’t just about business. He wanted control. Over the empire I had fought to build. Over me.And the worst part?I wasn’t sure I minded.A soft rustle behind me made me tense. “You’re thinking too much.”I turned to fi
…me a knowing look. “Doesn’t matter. It’s about perception.”I sank into the chair across from him, exhaling sharply. “So, what’s our move?”He smiled.That slow, dangerous smile that always meant trouble.A Week LaterCynthia was gone. Her empire, shattered. Her name, tarnished.But the world didn’t pause for my victory. The moment she fell, new threats emerged—rival companies trying to swoop in, investors questioning my leadership, and whispers in the dark from people who had once feared Cynthia but now saw an opening to take me down.And then there was Thiago.Always watching. Always waiting.It was late when he finally cornered me in my office, his presence stealing the air from the room.“You’ve been avoiding me, Wifey.” His voice was smooth, but there was something sharp underneath it.I didn’t look up from the contract I was reviewing. “I’ve been busy.”Thiago chuckled, low and knowing. “Bullshit. You’re running, and we both know why.”I exhaled slowly, finally meeting his gaze