And that? That was their mistake. Because they'd forgotten something crucial: I hadn't retired because I'd gone soft. I'd retired because I'd already won every battle worth fighting. Because I'd become so good at violence that peace became my only challenge. I moved toward the front door, noting w
I studied the man carefully as he remained quiet, measuring my next words. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with the knife Amelia still held behind her back. "If you have nothing better to say, I suggest you leave," I said, my voice carrying the quiet authority I'd cultivated over ye
When our eyes met briefly over the counter, my heart did that familiar skip that I'd never quite gotten used to. I couldn't look away from her if I tried, drinking in every detail – the way she tucked her blond locks behind her ear, the slight furrow of concentration between her brows, the elegant l
AMELIA A week had passed since my grandfather's unexpected visit, and I found myself settling into a strange sort of normalcy. The kind that felt both comforting and dangerous– like walking on a bridge made of glass. Beautiful, but with the constant awareness that it could shatter at any moment. T
JESSICA The steady beeping of monitors faded into background noise as I stripped off my surgical gloves, satisfaction warming my chest even as my bones ached from the exhaustion from being up for countless hours. Another successful surgery, another life saved. That's what I lived for now – not t
"That was one time!" she protested, but she was laughing too. "Okay, maybe twice if you count the Christmas party incident. And the baby shower thing... Fine, point taken!" Our laughter was interrupted by a throat clearing. We both turned to see Dr. Morrison, the hospital's chief of medicine, stan
I forced my face into what I hoped was a professionally neutral smile, pretending I didn't recognize the name that had haunted my childhood nightmares. "Good afternoon, Mr. Guerrero. I'm Dr. Jessica Timothy, and I'll be overseeing your cardiac care." I gave him a slight nod as I spoke in the softest
The needle slid into his vein smoothly, and I watched the dark red blood flow into the collection tube. Keep it steady, I coached myself. Keep it professional. But my mouth had gone dry, and I could feel cold sweat gathering at the base of my spine. "You're Antonio Timothy's daughter." He stated. I
AMELIA TWO YEARS LATER… I was twenty-seven years old, younger than my mother was when she had me, and five years older than she was when my grandfather entrusted the Guerrero family's responsibility to her. Despite trying my best not to think about her, everything I did, everywhere I walked in It
"And sitting back and doing nothing is better?" My voice rose, a mixture of frustration and desperation. "I'm tired of being the victim. Tired of being passed around like a piece of property, like something to be traded and bartered." His blue eyes flashed. "I would never let that happen to you aga
AMELIA Why was I so hesitant? I had been sure of my choices, I had accepted that it was what I really wanted and what I needed. But sitting here, with his head on my shoulder and his eyes looking so distant, I couldn't bring myself to say a word. Nothing. “Amy?” “Hm?” Roman raised his hea
Hi! Its me Dchenemi but you already know that lol. I want to thank you for sticking with this book this far and answer a few questions. Firstly O would like to apologize for the lack of updates, I have ongoing exams and I'm unable to focus on writing while the pressure of getting good grades are
AMELIA My mother had always told me I was destined for great things, and at some point in my life, I thought it was being a well-established painter or perhaps a tycoon like she wished to be. But now I realized what she truly meant. No matter how much she had tried to escape it, her past still cau
"I don't want anyone near you right now," he admitted quietly. "The thought of letting anyone close after what happened..." "Rome," I reached up to cover his hand with mine. "We can't live like that. I won't live like that – trapped in fear, suspicious of everyone." I wasn't going to tell him what
The thought of Roman losing control made my chest ache. I knew how he could get when his emotions overwhelmed him, knew the darkness he fought to keep at bay. "How bad was he? Really?" Maria led me toward the kitchen, her grip steady and supportive. "Bad enough that when this cousin appeared, even
AMELIA I cried myself back to sleep, my body was far too exhausted to do anything else. When I came to, Roman wasn't in the bedroom with me. Our bedroom. I was back home. It felt surreal seeing the familiar walls, the sheets, the scents. Everything made my eyes prickle with tears and the iron
AMELIA A FEW DAYS LATER… Isabella had kept her word. After the meeting with Mr. Rossi and a few others who Isabella failed to mention, she didn't send me back to the building I was locked up in. She gave me two flight tickets and told me to make a choice, one sent me back home and the other…was