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Riley's POV The air in the room was suffocating, thick with tension and the undeniable scent of danger. My chest tightened as I glanced around, the four guards surrounding us like wolves circling their prey. My hands trembled, and my legs felt like they might give out at any moment. I had faced enough trials in one day and I was already too tired to even continue another confrontation.I instinctively grabbed hold of the back of Jaxon's shirt as I leaned in closer to him, feeling the intimidating stares from the bodyguards that surrounded us with their huge, muscular bodies."Don't worry, Riley. I've got you. I'll keep you safe" I heard Jaxon say despite the huge amount of tension he was under.I looked at Jaxon as he remained standing in front of me, his broad shoulders squared and his head held high. His body was a solid wall of defiance and determination, shielding me from the menacing gazes of the guards. Although I could feel his intention to protect me, I could tell our s
Jaxon's POV The world seemed to tilt on its axis the moment my father pulled the gun from his jacket. Since when did my father carry a gun? This was entirely new to me and I tried my best to process fast what exactly I was stsriiat: the barrel of a loaded gun.Growing up, I have always looked at my father as a man of power, control, and manipulation. He didnât need weaponsâhis words alone had the sharpness of blades. But there he was, holding a gun, his face twisted in fury, and the cold metal glinting under the dim light. âDrop the gun, Dad,â I said, my voice calm despite the storm of emotions raging inside me. âThis isnât you. This isnât how we do things.â His grip tightened around the gun, his knuckles white. âDonât lecture me, Jaxon. You have no idea what Iâm capable of.â Rileyâs voice trembled behind me. âArthur, please⌠put the gun down. You donât need to do this.â Arthurâs eyes darted to Riley, his hatred so palpable it felt like a physical force in the room. âY
Riley's POV The moment Jaxon hit the floor, my entire world shattered. I pleaded with him not to go into the light but as I knelt beside him, I could feel his life draining slowly.âJaxon please don't leave me!â I screamed, holding his head and trying to get him to stay awake. His shirt was soaked with blood, the red stain spreading fast across his chest. My hands trembled as I pressed down on the wound, desperate to stop the bleeding. His eyes fluttered open for a moment, glazed with pain, and he gave me the faintest smile. âRileyâŚâ âDonât you dare,â I said, my voice breaking. âDonât you dare leave me, Jaxon. Stay with me.â His breath hitched, shallow and ragged, as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. I pressed harder on the wound, my hands slick with his blood. The warm, sticky sensation made my stomach churn, but I couldnât afford to think about that now. Arthur stood a few feet away, his face pale and eyes wide with disbelief. He stared at Jaxon as though u
Riley's POVThe steady hum of the machines filled the hospital room, a cruel reminder of Jaxon's fragile state. I sat beside his bed, my fingers holding his hand tightly, as if my touch could somehow bring him back to me. I couldn't deny it, I was actually hoping something like that would happen and finally end this nightmare once and for all.His face was pale, almost as pale as the clean hospital sheets, and the rhythmic beeping of the monitor was the only sign that life still flowed within him. It had been weeksâweeks since heâd taken that bullet meant for me, weeks since heâd fallen into this coma, and weeks since my entire world had come to revolve around this quiet, suffocating room. I sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. âJaxon,â I whispered, my voice barely audible over the machines. âYou have to wake up. Please. I donât know how much longer I can do this without you.â There was no response, just the rise and fall of his chest, fixed and unchangin
Riley's POVThe quiet of my apartment was a welcome change after the constant hum of the hospital. I didn't have to deal with the relentless beeping of the machines connected to Jaxon and I have to admit, I felt relived that I didn't have to listen to it, even if for just a few moments.It honestly wasn't easy living without Jaxon and I couldn't believe I had become so close to him, so much that I couldn't imagine how my life would have been if we never met.I guess that's what happens with someone takes a bullet for you.I set my bag down and pulled out my phone, intending to check the time, but a text notification caught my eye. It was from Chloe. "Hey, Riley. Howâs Jaxon doing?" She asked and I could feel her concern just from reading her short message.I sighed, my fingers hovering over the keyboard before I finally typed out a response. "Heâs still in the coma. The doctors donât know when or if heâll wake up" I replied, almost feeling like these words have become some kind of
Jaxon's POV The first thing I became aware of was a soft, persistent voice pulling me from the suffocating depths of unconsciousness. It wasnât sharp or startling, but it was thereâgentle and warm, like a light tug at the edges of my mind. âJaxon⌠Come on, Jaxon. Itâs time to wake up now.â Alexis. Iâd recognize her voice anywhere, even in this hazy void. She was the only one that could annoy me to wake up.I tried to respond, to open my eyes, but my body felt like it was filled with something heavy.My limbs were tight, my chest tight, and even my eyelids refused to cooperate. Still, her voice didnât falter. âYouâre stronger than this,â she said, her tone firm but encouraging. âRiley needs you, Jaxon. We all do. So, wake up already!â That nameâRiley. It sparked something in me, like a fire lighting in full force.Slowly, painfully, I willed my eyelids to move. The room around me came into focus, and the first thing I saw was Alexisâs face hovering above mine, her eyes wide
Riley's POV The car came to a smooth halt in front of the restaurant, its glowing elegance an extravagant display of glass and lights. The sheer elegance of the building was enough to make anyone feel out of place, but I was used to this nowâJaxonâs world of wealth and sophistication had become familiar territory. Before I could reach for the door handle, it swung open, revealing one of Jaxonâs bodyguards standing tall and imposing. His movements were precise, almost rehearsed, as he stepped aside to let me out. âThank you,â I said politely, stepping onto the almost busy driveway. âPlease let the driver know to stay ready. I wonât be too long.â The bodyguard nodded respectfully, his deep voice steady. âUnderstood, Mr. Matthews" he said.I adjusted my jacket, smoothing down the runples and took a moment to take in the sight of the restaurant. The evening air was delicious, the faint scent of sweet and expensive perfume being carried through the breeze. A valet hurried past,
Riley POVâHow can one man be so annoying?â I asked, leaning against the breakroom counter, arms crossed tightly over my chest. My best friend, Chloe, nodded sympathetically, though her eyes were glued to the scene unfolding outside the large office window. Jaxon Steele, our boss and resident tyrant, was doing what he did bestâtearing someone down.âYouâd think with all that money, he could at least afford some decency,â Chloe muttered, pushing a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear as she watched in disbelief. I shook my head. "Decency and Jaxon donât belong in the same sentence. Heâs all arrogance and cruelty" I said with disdain obvious in my voice.We both stared as Jaxonâs deep, commanding voice echoed across the office floor. The poor guy he was ripping intoâEric from accountingâstood there shaking, his face turning redder by the second. Jaxon was relentless, his tall, muscular frame towering over Eric like a lion about to devour its prey.I hated him. Every fiber of my
Riley's POV The car came to a smooth halt in front of the restaurant, its glowing elegance an extravagant display of glass and lights. The sheer elegance of the building was enough to make anyone feel out of place, but I was used to this nowâJaxonâs world of wealth and sophistication had become familiar territory. Before I could reach for the door handle, it swung open, revealing one of Jaxonâs bodyguards standing tall and imposing. His movements were precise, almost rehearsed, as he stepped aside to let me out. âThank you,â I said politely, stepping onto the almost busy driveway. âPlease let the driver know to stay ready. I wonât be too long.â The bodyguard nodded respectfully, his deep voice steady. âUnderstood, Mr. Matthews" he said.I adjusted my jacket, smoothing down the runples and took a moment to take in the sight of the restaurant. The evening air was delicious, the faint scent of sweet and expensive perfume being carried through the breeze. A valet hurried past,
Jaxon's POV The first thing I became aware of was a soft, persistent voice pulling me from the suffocating depths of unconsciousness. It wasnât sharp or startling, but it was thereâgentle and warm, like a light tug at the edges of my mind. âJaxon⌠Come on, Jaxon. Itâs time to wake up now.â Alexis. Iâd recognize her voice anywhere, even in this hazy void. She was the only one that could annoy me to wake up.I tried to respond, to open my eyes, but my body felt like it was filled with something heavy.My limbs were tight, my chest tight, and even my eyelids refused to cooperate. Still, her voice didnât falter. âYouâre stronger than this,â she said, her tone firm but encouraging. âRiley needs you, Jaxon. We all do. So, wake up already!â That nameâRiley. It sparked something in me, like a fire lighting in full force.Slowly, painfully, I willed my eyelids to move. The room around me came into focus, and the first thing I saw was Alexisâs face hovering above mine, her eyes wide
Riley's POVThe quiet of my apartment was a welcome change after the constant hum of the hospital. I didn't have to deal with the relentless beeping of the machines connected to Jaxon and I have to admit, I felt relived that I didn't have to listen to it, even if for just a few moments.It honestly wasn't easy living without Jaxon and I couldn't believe I had become so close to him, so much that I couldn't imagine how my life would have been if we never met.I guess that's what happens with someone takes a bullet for you.I set my bag down and pulled out my phone, intending to check the time, but a text notification caught my eye. It was from Chloe. "Hey, Riley. Howâs Jaxon doing?" She asked and I could feel her concern just from reading her short message.I sighed, my fingers hovering over the keyboard before I finally typed out a response. "Heâs still in the coma. The doctors donât know when or if heâll wake up" I replied, almost feeling like these words have become some kind of
Riley's POVThe steady hum of the machines filled the hospital room, a cruel reminder of Jaxon's fragile state. I sat beside his bed, my fingers holding his hand tightly, as if my touch could somehow bring him back to me. I couldn't deny it, I was actually hoping something like that would happen and finally end this nightmare once and for all.His face was pale, almost as pale as the clean hospital sheets, and the rhythmic beeping of the monitor was the only sign that life still flowed within him. It had been weeksâweeks since heâd taken that bullet meant for me, weeks since heâd fallen into this coma, and weeks since my entire world had come to revolve around this quiet, suffocating room. I sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. âJaxon,â I whispered, my voice barely audible over the machines. âYou have to wake up. Please. I donât know how much longer I can do this without you.â There was no response, just the rise and fall of his chest, fixed and unchangin
Riley's POV The moment Jaxon hit the floor, my entire world shattered. I pleaded with him not to go into the light but as I knelt beside him, I could feel his life draining slowly.âJaxon please don't leave me!â I screamed, holding his head and trying to get him to stay awake. His shirt was soaked with blood, the red stain spreading fast across his chest. My hands trembled as I pressed down on the wound, desperate to stop the bleeding. His eyes fluttered open for a moment, glazed with pain, and he gave me the faintest smile. âRileyâŚâ âDonât you dare,â I said, my voice breaking. âDonât you dare leave me, Jaxon. Stay with me.â His breath hitched, shallow and ragged, as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. I pressed harder on the wound, my hands slick with his blood. The warm, sticky sensation made my stomach churn, but I couldnât afford to think about that now. Arthur stood a few feet away, his face pale and eyes wide with disbelief. He stared at Jaxon as though u
Jaxon's POV The world seemed to tilt on its axis the moment my father pulled the gun from his jacket. Since when did my father carry a gun? This was entirely new to me and I tried my best to process fast what exactly I was stsriiat: the barrel of a loaded gun.Growing up, I have always looked at my father as a man of power, control, and manipulation. He didnât need weaponsâhis words alone had the sharpness of blades. But there he was, holding a gun, his face twisted in fury, and the cold metal glinting under the dim light. âDrop the gun, Dad,â I said, my voice calm despite the storm of emotions raging inside me. âThis isnât you. This isnât how we do things.â His grip tightened around the gun, his knuckles white. âDonât lecture me, Jaxon. You have no idea what Iâm capable of.â Rileyâs voice trembled behind me. âArthur, please⌠put the gun down. You donât need to do this.â Arthurâs eyes darted to Riley, his hatred so palpable it felt like a physical force in the room. âY
Riley's POV The air in the room was suffocating, thick with tension and the undeniable scent of danger. My chest tightened as I glanced around, the four guards surrounding us like wolves circling their prey. My hands trembled, and my legs felt like they might give out at any moment. I had faced enough trials in one day and I was already too tired to even continue another confrontation.I instinctively grabbed hold of the back of Jaxon's shirt as I leaned in closer to him, feeling the intimidating stares from the bodyguards that surrounded us with their huge, muscular bodies."Don't worry, Riley. I've got you. I'll keep you safe" I heard Jaxon say despite the huge amount of tension he was under.I looked at Jaxon as he remained standing in front of me, his broad shoulders squared and his head held high. His body was a solid wall of defiance and determination, shielding me from the menacing gazes of the guards. Although I could feel his intention to protect me, I could tell our s
Jaxon's POV The cold night air felt sharp against my skin as I parked my car far from the house and stepped into the shadows. I kept my eyes on the road ahead to make sure I was a safe distance from where Riley was being held by my father.I checked my phone once again to make sure the tracker signaling Riley was still up ahead was still working despite being a considerably distance from town.I sent Chloe a text, updating her of where I've gotten and told her to be on standby because I had a feeling I might need her.I couldn't tell just how this rescue operation might go and I didn't want to take the risk of putting Riley's life in more danger than it already was.The safe house stood in the distance, surrounded by tall trees and an eerie silence that settled heavily in the atmosphere that almost made me shudder.I took quiet steps as I surveyed the environment to look for a good entry point where I was sure I won't be seen or detected by my father's goons.Thanks to all the James
Riley's POV I laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my fingers brushing against the worn fabric of the blanket beneath me. My mind churned as I tried to piece together where I was and why Arthur Steele would have a place like this. Arthur didnât seem like the type to hide away in secret locations. He was a man who dominated every room he entered, a master manipulator who controlled people and situations with ruthless efficiency. So why have a place like this? And more importantly, why bring me here? I rubbed my temples, the silence of the room amplifying the questions in my head. My thoughts spiraled, shifting to Jaxon. Was he looking for me? Did he know where I was? The idea that he might be out there, searching for me, gave me a small sliver of hope. My train of thought was interrupted by the abrupt sound of the door unlocking. I sat up, heart pounding, as one of Arthurâs bodyguards entered the room. He was the taller of the two, the one with the annoyed face.He thre