Kris shook his head, a thoughtful crease forming between his eyebrows. “No,” he said. “I don’t think she’s left the city. Millie wouldn’t just leave her work without officially informing me. She’s responsible that way. I’m certain she’s still in Baltimore.”Zeke’s eyes narrowed in thought. Kris’s words had sparked some hope inside him. “Let’s start checking hotels and apartment complexes.” Kris suggested, glancing at Zeke. “I can have my contacts look up records of apartment complexes. And you can have yours check hotel records.”Zeke nodded determinedly as he started the car. “Yes, let's do that.”Inside the bar, Francis staggered out of the washroom with Paco, who was clutching his bruised head.“Fuck, I think he cracked my skull with the gun.” Paco groaned. “We have to make them pay.”Francis gritted his teeth. He didn't care about Kris Miller's involvement. All he cared about was getting back at Zeke Mathews.The man might be powerful with his house surrounded by guards, but Fra
“Zeke?” Millie breathed.“Millie…” Zeke replied, just as softly, his voice thick with something she couldn’t quite place. They stood frozen for a moment, simply looking at each other. Millie took in the sight of his disheveled hair, the way it fell over his forehead in messy waves, as if he’d been running his hands through it over and over. Normally, she’d have laughed at the look; it was so unlike the polished, composed man she knew. But now, the mere sight of him sent a heavy ache settling deep into her chest.Bypassing her, Zeke stepped inside, letting the door fall closed behind him. His eyes searched hers, intense. “How could you do this to me, Millie?” He questioned, his voice cracking slightly. “Do you have any idea the kind of hell I went through when I got home and realized you were gone? Why did you leave?”Millie swallowed, the weight of his words settling over her like a storm. Still, she tried to keep her expression neutral as she responded.“I stated my reason in the
After several seconds of just standing in dumbfounded silence, Millie took a shaky breath, stepping back. “Zeke, you can't just say something like that.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but her eyes held a mixture of caution and disbelief.“Why not?” he asked, closing the gap she’d put between them. “It's the truth.”Millie shook her head. “Because you’re only saying this because you feel guilty.” Her voice cracked as she forced herself to continue. “You feel bad about what happened, Zeke, and…you think this is what I want to hear.”“Millie,” he began, his voice softening, “I won’t lie. I did feel guilty. But not because of what we shared that night. I didn’t regret it, not the way I made it sound. The guilt was… it was about me. I felt ashamed because, after waking up, I realized how much I wanted that night—how much I wanted you. And you didn't deserve that, especially after I'd gone after another woman just a few hours before.”Looking away, Millie clenched her jaw. His word
The kiss was intense, filled with a hunger and conviction that left Millie breathless. His hands gripped her tightly, as though he was afraid she’d slip away.When he finally pulled back, he held her face in his hands, his voice a low, fervent whisper. “Does that kiss feel like it was born out of guilt?”Before Millie could answer, his mouth found her neck, leaving a trail of kisses that sent shivers down her spine. His hand slid down her back, pulling her close. “Do my caresses feel like they come from guilt?” He whispered, his breath warm against her skin. A moan spilled from her mouth.Zeke's fingers traced her sides. Grabbing her hand, he brought it between them and placed her palm over the unmistakable heat of his desire. Millie almost gasped because of how big and hard his dick felt in her hand through the fabric of his trousers.“And what about this?” He questioned, his voice thick and raspy.Millie shrugged. “You could’ve taken Viagra.”Zeke froze, pulling back to stare at
“Oh my God.” Thalassa whispered, a stricken look on her face.Kris had just told them about Millie’s situation with Francis, and the shock on her face was mirrored by Luisa’s horrified gaze.After some seconds, she finally found her voice again. “I can’t believe Millie was going through something so horrible... and we never even noticed.”Kris wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “Hey,” he murmured, his tone gentle yet firm. “Don’t feel guilty. Millie hid it well. She’s been working with me for two years, and there were times I suspected something wasn’t right... but I could never have guessed it was like this. She didn’t want anyone to see.”“But... she told Zeke, though, didn’t she?” Luisa’s voice was barely above a whisper.Kris shook his head, the faintest sigh escaping him. “Not exactly. Zeke found out by accident. One day, he walked into the guest bathroom here, and Millie was in there, drying out the wet hem of her dress. She’d taken the dress off, and he saw bruises
Since Kris and Thalassa didn't inform Rita beforehand that they would be coming, the older woman was pleasantly surprised to see them.“Kris! Thalassa! Oh, my dears!” Rita exclaimed, practically pulling them both into a hug. She embraced Thalassa tightly, murmuring, “I missed you so much.”Thalassa hugged her back, feeling warmth fill her heart. “Me too, Mum. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I should have.”“Oh, hush with that,” Rita said gently, brushing off her apology. “Now come, you two, sit with me.” She ushered them to the cozy living room, where she settled onto the couch beside them.Just then, Bridget, the housemaid, appeared and greeted them with a fond smile, especially Thalassa. “Would you like anything, dear?”Thalassa perked up. “Actually, we’d love some of your delicious coffee, Bridget. I can’t even remember the last time I had it.”Bridget chuckled, her eyes twinkling proudly. “It’s very good to see you again, dear Lassa. At least you’re not like the other one who…” Sh
Taking in the look of pure joy on Rita's face, Thalassa couldn't help but feel her throat tighten. “There are more pictures.” she said and flipped to the next. The huddled together, scrolling through picture after picture. Rita gushed over each photo of Alexander, her eyes glistening with pride and joy. "He’s got your eyes, Kris. But his smile is all Lassa!" She exclaimed, her voice thick with emotion. Thalassa couldn't stop smiling. Over the last hour or so, the three of them slipped into stories of old memories, laughter bubbling up at the little things. Eventually, Rita asked, “Will you stay for dinner? It would make my evening to have both of you here a little longer.” Kris smiled, but he shook his head gently. "We’d love to, Rita, but we have somewhere we need to be." Rita raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparkling in her gaze. "Oh? And where might that be?" Kris chuckled, glancing at Thalassa with a mischievous grin. “Sorry, but I can't tell you. Actually, I haven’t even to
Thalassa stood frozen as Kris's words hung in the air. Her heart pounded so loudly she thought he might hear it as a mix of conflicting emotions threatened to knock the breath out of her.Kris knelt before her, the warmth in his eyes slowly turning to uncertainty as she remained silent. The longer she stood there, not speaking, the more his smile faltered. Why wasn't she answering?But he tried to reassure himself, pushing the anxiety down. She was just shocked and would respond as soon as the shock wore off. Finally, she responded, but it caught him completely off guard. “No, Kris… I’m sorry,” she said as she shook her head, her voice shaking.Kris blinked. Her words hit him like a punch to the chest. He looked at her, his lips slightly parted, trying to process what she’d just said. He'd misheard, hadn't he?He managed a shaky laugh, “That’s very funny, Lassa.” He expected her to laugh back and admit that indeed, it'd been a joke, but she didn't laugh or smile. Instead, tears beg
The bullet hit Linda square in the shoulder. Linda crumpled to the floor, clutching her arm. She groaned in pain as the blood seeped through her fingers, mixing with the gasoline pooling beneath her. Karen didn’t hesitate. She immediately rushed towards Thalassa’s chair, her movements frantic but determined. “Hold still,” she muttered, her trembling hands fumbling with the ropes binding Thalassa’s wrists. After some seconds, the ropes finally loosened. Thalassa pulled her hands free and immediately bent down to help Karen untie her legs. The knot slipped, and she finally stood, her heart pounding wildly. “We need to leave, Karen,” she said, her voice sharp with urgency. “Yes.” Karen nodded, breathless. “Let’s go.” Neither of them saw Linda reaching into her handbag and pulling out a pistol. Just as they turned to run, a gunshot exploded in the air. Thalassa froze as Karen let out a gasp of pain. “Karen!” she screamed. Karen staggered, her hand clutching her stomach where blood
After spreading one gallon of the gasoline. Linda moved to the next, then the next. And the next.The pungent liquid soaked into the cracks of wooden members, splattered against the cardboard boxes strewn around the room, and puddled near Thalassa’s chair.Thalassa’s heart hammered violently in her chest, but she kept her face a mask of defiance. No. She had to do something. You couldn't die. Not today.She needed to get back to Alex and Kris. They were waiting for her. Alex needed her. But no matter how she wriggled her wrists, the rope refused to loosen.Linda finished pouring the last gallon, letting the empty container clatter to the floor. Straightening up, she brushed her hands against her dress, a twisted smile curling her lips as she turned to face Thalassa.From a nearby chair, she grabbed her handbag and pulled out a somewhat small device. Then she walked back toward Thalassa, holding it up like a trophy.“This,” Linda began, her voice laced with cruel amusement, “is a deto
Thalassa's heart pounded violently in her chest as the thugs came closer and closer.She kept her face hard, her jaw clenched. Every instinct screamed at her to panic because she knew this was no joke, but she refused to give Linda or her thugs the satisfaction."Don't you dare come closer," she spat through gritted teeth, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.One of the thugs threw his head back and laughed. "She's trying to act hard.” His lips curled into a lecherous grin. "Don't worry, sweetheart. We'll break you in no time. Turn you into a nice, docile little bitch begging for our cocks."Thalassa jerked her chair back as far as it could go, her muscles straining against the ropes that bound her. But one of the thugs circled behind her, his rough hands already reaching for the knots securing her wrists to the chair.She could feel his breath on the back of her neck as he muttered, "Don't make this harder on yourself by resisting.”He had begun untangling the ropes
Kris paced back and forth in the living room like a caged animal, his jaw clenched and his hands tugging through his hair in sheer frustration and desperation.His voice was low, barely above a hiss, as he spoke into his phone. “What do you mean the surveillance ends at that spot? And the car is never seen again? Did it fucking disappear into thin air?”His steps quickened as his anxiety surged. “Listen to me, Smoke. The next time you call me, you better have something useful to tell me.”He ended the call with a sharp tap and flung the phone onto the couch, his breath coming in uneven gasps. Alden and Luisa were sitting on the couch across from him, their expressions tense as they silently watched.Tessa was curled up in Luisa’s arms, her small chest rising and falling as she slept. Luisa stroked her hair absently, her eyes rimmed with exhaustion, but no one said a word.It had been hours since Thalassa’s car was found in the middle of the road with bullet holes and shattered glass.
Karen hesitated in front of the door, her hand hovering over the knob. Her breathing was shallow, her chest aching. She was in front of the door to her mother's room.It was the first time she’d stood here since her mother’s death. No, not just her death. It had been years since she’d stepped into this room. Her fingers tightened around the knob, turning it slowly. The door creaked open, and Karen stepped inside. Everything was exactly as her mother had left it: spotless, warm, yet eerily silent. Her eyes scanned the familiar space, and a wave of nostalgia washed over her, nearly knocking her off her feet.She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, taking in the faint scent of lavender that still lingered in the air.Her throat tightened as memories came rushing back. She remembered when she was eight years old and her father’s death was plastered across the news. He'd died while cruising on the sea.She hadn’t understood it at the time, but the image of the wrecked yacht
Thalassa groaned as consciousness crept back to her. Her head felt heavy, like a storm had taken up residence in her skull. She blinked her eyes open, and she was greeted by nearly pitch-black darkness.The air was cold and stale, tinged with the metallic scent of rust and dampness. She was sitting in a chair, and it didn't take long for her to realize that her wrists and ankles were bound tightly to the chair.She wriggled her wrists, trying to see if she could free her hands from the ropes, but they only dug painfully into her skin. The knots didn’t budge.The sound of footsteps broke the silence, sharp and deliberate against the concrete floor. Then the voice of the woman she hated more than anything in the world echoed through the space.“Don’t bother, darling. You’re only wasting your time.”Thalassa froze, her breath catching in her throat. The dim light overhead flickered on, falling on the woman in front of her.Linda.She was standing a few feet away, a satisfied smirk on her
The engine’s steady hum filled the car as Thalassa leaned back against the plush leather seat, her phone pressed tightly to her ear.She barely registered the bodyguards seated in the front, their voices muffled as they exchanged words about security measures. Her focus was solely on the call.She'd been dialing Betty's number since Kris left a few minutes ago, but the other woman wasn't picking up. Finally, the tone of the call being answered came through.“Thank God you finally picked up, Betty,” Thalassa said, her voice trembling just enough to betray her nerves.“Thalassa?” Betty’s warm, familiar voice came through the line. "Oh, sorry, I was in the shower. Is something wrong? You sound... tense.”Thalassa closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “Please,” she begged, her words rushed. “Tell me my son is safe.”There was a short pause before Betty chuckled lightly. “You called to ask that an hour ago. Alex is fine, I promise. Safe and sound. He’s having the time of his life with tha
Kris groaned, the dull ache in the back of his head pulling him from the haze of unconsciousness. His vision blurred as he blinked rapidly, trying to focus. A small, trembling voice broke through the fog.“Daddy, please wake up,” Tessa sobbed, her tiny hands clutching at his arm. She was hunched over his body, tears streaming down her cheeks, her whole frame shaking.Kris forced himself upright, wincing as his fingers pressed against the throbbing lump on his head. His heart clenched at the sight of his daughter’s tear-streaked face.“Tessa,” he rasped, pulling her into his arms. “I’m okay, baby. I’m here. Don’t cry.”He cradled her against his chest, rocking her gently, ignoring the sharp pain in his skull. Her sobs slowly subsided as he murmured soothing words, stroking her hair.After a moment, Kris pulled back to look at her. “Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?”Tessa shook her head, her lip quivering. “No… but I was so scared, Daddy. They had guns.”Kris swallowed hard, h
Kris’s fingers tightened around the phone, his knuckles white against the smooth surface. For a moment, the world around him seemed to freeze, his mind struggling to process Karen’s words. Tessa. Taken. His breath caught in his throat. Then, the cold reality slammed into him like a freight train.“What do you mean they took her?!” Kris hissed, his voice sharp and rising in panic.Karen’s voice came through the speaker again, shaky and tearful. “They— they shot the guard, Kris. They came into the house with guns. They said they’d hurt me if I didn’t give them Tessa.”His stomach churned, dread twisting his insides. “And you did?” he bit out, his voice breaking with a mix of anger and desperation. “I didn’t have a choice!” Karen cried. “I tried to stop them, but they hit me—I couldn’t—” Her words dissolved into sobs.Kris raked a hand through his hair, feeling like he was going crazy. “I told you! I told you to let me take her!” His voice cracked with raw emotion, his anger barely mas