Callan, Lucien, and I were walking through the woods in Hangetsukohan Park for almost an hour. Most of the heavy rain was stopped by the densely growing trees, but it took us less than ten minutes of walking to become completely soaked. Certainly, umbrellas were not an option, and the raincoats would only restrain our movements. That was something we couldn't risk, knowing there could still be armed men lurking around. Lucien groaned, leaning his back against the tree. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think we've checked the area Fen marked twice already. She's not here.” He wasn't wrong. We separated at first, each one securing a certain part of the terrain, but we found them completely empty. If there were any signs of anyone's footsteps, they had been washed by the rain a while ago. When I didn't answer, Lucien continued. “What if they found her and we are wasting time and freezing our butts off just to find out she is in danger elsewhere?” I tried not to think of that possibilit
LILLYI vaguely recalled what happened after Darren had found me and I had felt his body warmth against my rain-soaked skin. I remember thunders around us as the storm had become more vicious than before. I remembered him calling someone on the phone and then carrying me somewhere in his arms. I wanted to help him. I wanted to tell him that I could walk on my own, but that was a lie. I couldn't even open my mouth and voice out a full sentence, not to mention keep my feet steady enough to walk.I must have drifted into unconsciousness again at some point because, when I finally woke up, I was in bed, under a warm quilt. It wasn't our hotel or a hospital bed either. This place looked like a wooden cabin with tatami floors—neat and cozy, but also kind of luxurious. My bed looked like an enormous futon resting on a two-inch wooden podium, covering most of the room. As more of my awareness returned, I glanced under the sheets. I didn't see any dirt on my body, and I was dressed in a simple
Darren woke me up a while later and carried me to the bathtub. He let me soak in warm water and then joined me, allowing me to thoroughly enjoy the sweet intimacy between us. Once we dried up from the bath, he carried me back to bed. I protested, trying to convince him I was fully capable of walking on my own, but he didn't let me test that theory. Soon I was lying in the same position I had fallen asleep—with my head resting on his chest and his arms around me. The only thing that changed was his heart, now beating slowly and evenly.“So… what now?” I asked softly as my hand idly traced the carved lines of his abdominal muscles.He blew out a breath. “We would have to leave this bed, eventually, and eat something.”I chuckled. “I rather meant after we leave this cabin.”His arms around me tightened. “I've already transferred the money to Amelia's account, and my lawyers sent her proper documents concerning the deal my father had made. Legally, it solves everything between her and me,
DARRENLilly told me about the letter she found in her father's study and about the deal her father had made with Ansel Holloway before he died. I couldn't blame her for keeping it all a secret from me. She still hoped that her father could be innocent, despite the terrifying evidence she had found. Surprisingly, I began to believe this case might have been more complicated than I thought.Since it turned out to be the night of revealing all the secrets, I told her what I had learned about the formula my father had bought from the so-called professor Stephan Masterson. I described the meeting with that man's wife and that she had claimed that they had only received fifty thousand dollars instead of the four million my father had paid. After adding my story to hers, the whole picture seemed even more messed up.“Have you ever thought that this was a little too convenient?” Lilly asked as we were still lying in bed. “This man appeared out of nowhere and sold your father a formula just w
I hid in one of the alcoves as Alim Nassar stormed out of the patio and headed to the exit. Then I waited there until Amelia emerged, rubbing her neck and cursing under her breath.“Fine friends you have there, Amelia.” I stepped out of the alcove, a smirk curving my lips.She flinched and stepped back, her lips peeling back in a snarl. “What the fuck are you doing here?”I shrugged and inched closer. “You didn't reply to my texts, and you should have. I brought a deed to your building after all.”She scoffed. “I don't give a damn about that deed.”My brows rose. “I thought you wanted to have your New York headquarters. You'll need it when you launch your magazine's American edition.”“Please, don't pretend you don't know about my financial problems,” she strained through her teeth.“Is that why you decided to sell your soul to Alim Nassar and whoever his boss is?”A grim smirk twisted her lips. “You know nothing about the deal I made, and, for your own good, it'll be better if it sta
LILLYThe concern Callan had shown when I had been kidnapped must have evaporated as soon as he returned to New York. A day after we arrived, I received documents stating that Hayes Global had officially nullified the license agreement I had signed with my father. Additionally, there were claims concerning the rights as well as an official demand that my team and I deliver the project's full data.Of course, I expected that much, and after talking to my lawyer, I wasn't peculiarly bothered by what I received. I was even relieved since the license agreement worked in our favor only if we were still working for Hayes Labs. Now all I wanted was for the judge to state that all the rights belonged solely to me and my team. Once it happened, I could start thinking about founding my own company…Unfortunately, I couldn't focus on my work just yet. Not only because I had to move out of my apartment, but because I had to show up in court... Nicolas Rogers's case was about to begin.Raven happi
I breathed in sharply, but it felt as if no oxygen filled my lungs. I tried again and again, but it only became worse. My body began to shiver, and my hand reached for Lucien's arm, curling around it and squeezing until I caught his attention.His head finally snapped toward me. “What's wrong?” His eyes traced my features, his brows knitting.“There,” I breathed out, slowly raising my hand to point to the opposite side of the room. “The man in the black cap.”He turned around, blocking my view again. “I don't see anyone wearing a cap.”I leaned out to see. “An Asian guy…” My words faded as I found nothing but an empty space where I saw him. I swallowed, turning to Lucien. “He was here. The man who kidnapped me.”Lucien studied me for a moment. “Are you sure? Maybe you saw someone similar, or maybe it's just your mind playing tricks on you.”I shook my head. “I know what I saw.”He gave me a thin-lipped smile and nodded. “All right. Stay here while I check the corridors. If it's him, h
A shudder rushed throughout my body. Someone was inside the apartment. Someone was lurking in the darkness, perhaps standing a few feet away from me. I stayed still, listening to every sound, but I couldn't hear anything aside from my hammering heart. Swallowing hard, I took a cautious step toward the door.“I'm afraid I cannot let you leave,” a deep, male voice said.My head snapped to the left corner of the dark room, where the sound came from. Then I saw it—the shape of a man, emerging from the black of the night. He stepped into the part softly illuminated by light sneaking through one of the windows. He was wearing heavy boots, combat pants, and a black military-like jacket. A black cap on his head obscured most of his face from my view, but what I saw was enough to recognize him.“You tried to kidnap me,” I choked out, stumbling back.The man chuckled and stepped forward. “I had a foolish man for a partner then, but I won't fail this time.” He advanced at me and pulled out a gun