Novels by Christie Bassey

LYSSANDRA By the time Cross decides we’re to start riding again, my body already feels like it has been wrung out and left to dry in the sun.The horse beneath me is massive, warm, and impatient, its muscles shifting restlessly as though it senses my unease and finds it amusing. My thighs burn from the first few rounds, a deep, throbbing ache that has nothing to do with weakness and everything to do with unfamiliar strain. I grit my teeth and adjust my grip on the reins, refusing to let Cross see how much effort it takes just to stay upright.He rides beside me with infuriating ease, straight-backed and relaxed, as though the saddle is an extension of his body rather than something perched atop a living, breathing creature. His horse responds to him instantly, every shift of weight met with obedience, and I hate him for it almost as much as I hate myself for noticing.“Again,” he says, his voice carrying easily across the open space. “Try not to embarrass yourself this time.”I gl

LYSSANDRA No one comes to my room for two days. Even Cross, and Cade stay away. I hear doors opening and closing somewhere beyond my walls, voices murmuring and then fading away, but none of them belong to anyone who intends to look me in the eye.The food appears when I’m not in the room. I notice the pattern on the second day, when I step out of the shower and find a tray already sitting on the small table by the wall. It hadn’t been there when I went in. There is no knock, no sound of a door opening or closing, no hint of another presence. Just warm food, arranged neatly, as if someone had been waiting for the sound of running water before daring to enter.It unsettles me more than outright cruelty would have.bAt least cruelty acknowledges that I exist.I pace the room until my steps wear invisible tracks into the floor, then I stop and go to the window again, pressing my palms against the cool glass between the iron bars. Outside, the land stretches wide and deceptively peacef

ERDENI send the picture of the house Lyssandra sent Riley to Edge with a single, sharp flick of my thumb, my jaw locked so tight it aches.It is the image Riley snapped and sent to Lyssandra before she went inside, the neat two-story house sitting quietly in a row of similar homes, unremarkable and deceptively ordinary. The kind of place no one looks twice at. The kind of place people disappear from.“This is where she went to meet Nyra,” I say into the phone, my voice low and controlled even though my pulse is hammering. “I don’t actually believe this is where Lyssandra is being held, but it’s the last confirmed location we have, so maybe it gives you a starting point.”There is a pause on the other end of the line, the faint sound of breathing, and then Edge exhales sharply through his teeth.“You’re right,” he says finally. “It’s too clean. Too obvious. Whoever planned this wanted to be seen.”“That’s my thought as well,” I reply, staring out the window as traffic moves below like

LYSSANDRA The knife comes down.I feel the weight of it in my hand, the promise of it, the sheer reckless hope that maybe I can end this before it truly begins. My muscles lock, my breath cuts short, and every nerve in my body screams as the blade connects with the back of Cross Kryne’s neck.And then, instead of a cry of pain, instead of the wet, sickening sound I am braced for, there is laughter.It is deep and rich and utterly wrong, spilling out of him like I have just told the most amusing joke he has heard all year.I go still while my arm remains raised, my grip still tight around the handle, my heart slamming so hard against my ribs that I can hear it in my ears. For one dizzy second, I wonder if I have finally lost my mind, if fear has cracked something inside me and I am hallucinating this sound.Slowly, dread pooling thick and heavy in my gut, I look down at my hands.There is no blood.There's no slick warmth coating my fingers, and no iron smell rising up to choke me. I

ERDEN I was wearing a groove into the floor of my office.Back and forth, from the desk to the door, from the door to the window, my steps heavy enough that the wood complained under my boots. I could feel it in my chest, that tight, useless pressure that wanted to turn into something violent and reckless. Panic. Rage. Fear. None of it would help Lyssandra. None of it would get her back.I stopped short and turned toward the window, planting my palm flat against the glass. It was cool under my skin, just like Lyssandra’s skin pressed firmly against my chest had been thr last morning at her house. I leaned forward until my forehead almost touched it and forced myself to inhale slowly, then again, counting the seconds the way I had taught myself years ago when my control first started slipping.Losing my head was exactly what my father wanted.My reflection stared back at me, jaw clenched. I dragged my hand down my face and straightened, already knowing what I had to do even though

LYSSANDRA I don’t need him to introduce himself. I already know who he is.The resemblance is impossible to miss now that the light is fully on him, now that I’ve had time to steady my breathing and really look. All his children look like him. I’ve seen it before in Aksel’s brutal height, in the way Erden’s face can go frighteningly still when he’s angry, in Kavev’s eyes when he’s calculating something and pretending not to care. This man didn’t just pass on his genes, he stamped them onto his bloodline like a signature.Dominant doesn’t even begin to cover it.He straightens to his full height and I have to crane my neck back to keep eye contact, which irritates me more than it should. Aksel is tall, infuriatingly so, but Erden is taller still. This man, though, is something else entirely. A giant in the truest sense, broad-shouldered and solid in a way that suggests violence doesn’t cost him effort. I get the unsettling sense that he has never once in his life doubted his own

TWO YEARS LATERThe garden smelled like roses and summer rain. There were lanterns hanging from old oak branches.I'd never dreamed of a wedding day catered to just my taste, but if I had, this would had been it. “You're crying.” Valentina murmured, taking a kerchief from her bag. I shook my head. “They're happy tears. I just wish Papa was here.” “So do I, buy you'll ruin your make up, and we don't want that.” I nodded, and slid my arm into Pietro’s who had watery eyes himself. “You make the most beautiful bride, Alina. I'm glad to see the day when you are happy.” I turned and hugged him hard, only pulling away when the marching band started. “Thank you for walking me down the aisle, Pietro.” “It's my honor. You could have picked anyone and you choose me.” He kissed my finger gently, and together, we walked down the aisle to Luca. Everything looked like a scene from a memory I’d want to keep forever. Because at the end of the aisle, Luca stood waiting.He looked devastatin

LUCAI didn't hear the shot from Ethan. I wasn't even sure where exactly he was shooting from, but one minute, Riot was huddled together with his guards, and the next second, his head jerked back. For a moment, it seemed he had tripped over something and the guards reached out to steady him. Except he didn't stop, he kept falling, his body folded in on himself like someone had pumped the life of him. Riot hit the pavement, blood pouring from his head shot wound, and flowing out onto the asphalt under him. None of the guards moved fast enough, and that was always a bad idea. They stopped and stared at him, as though they couldn't process what their eyes was showing them. I shoved open the SUV door and stepped out. The air was cold, smelled like rain and exhaust, but all I was looking at were the rooftops. My Glock was already in my hand, pointed up, and ready to shoot. Alvez was right behind me, grinning like this was his idea of a good time.Vector slid out on my side, his r

LUCAShe was quiet for a moment, searching my face. Then she nodded, tears welling in her eyes, but this time, they were good tears. “Yes.”I kissed her again, deeper this time, and she laughed against my lips. Leo came running over with grass stains on his knees, demanding juice, and Alina wiped her face quickly before scooping him into her lap. For a moment, everything felt easy.We sat together, sunlight burning my scalp while I watched the Leo and Maya run around the park. This was easy, I could do this. That was just before my phone rang. It was an unknown number and even before I answered, I could almost tell something was wrong. It was the prickle between my shoulders. It came and went, but it always came when there was danger. “Enjoying your day out, Luca?” a voice drawled on the other end.Every muscle in my body went rigid. “Who is this?”The man chuckled. “That’s a beautiful park, the boy and girl are cute. Shame if something happened to them.”My eyes shot to my men,

LUCADinner was loud. Louder than I’d have liked for someone who’d been shot a few days ago, but I let it happen because the kids deserved it.Maya was laughing at something on Pietro’s phone, the sound of her tiny giggles lighting the dining room.Bruno was stretched out under the table, tail thumping every so often like he was in a good mood. My plate was barely touched. Between the stitches in my side pulling every time I moved and the storm that was always brewing in the back of my head, food didn’t exactly feel like a priority. Alina sat next to me, hair tucked behind her ear, laughing as she spooned mashed potatoes onto Leo’s plate.She caught me staring and gave me this small, knowing smile that said she wasn’t fooled for a second by my silence.That’s when my phone rang. I didn’t even check the caller ID. Campbell’s voice reached my ears the moment I pressed answer.“Mila’s gone.”I leaned back, my fingers tightening around the fork I hadn’t realized I was still holding. “

ALINAHe was breathing, thank God, but his breaths were shallow, wet. My heart felt like it was splitting in two.“I’m fine,” he rasped, like the idiot he is, clutching at his side.“Shut up, you’re not fine! Stop talking!” My voice changed into a scream without warning, and I was shaking so hard I could barely see.“I am.”“Don’t you dare,” I snapped at him, pressing both hands against the wound. My palms were slick with his blood. He groaned, flinching under the pressure, and that sound nearly had me breaking into hives.Bella was still standing there in shock, her hands clamped over her mouth, the gun dangling uselessly in one hand. Her whole body shook as she whispered, “I didn’t mean to…oh my God, I didn’t mean to!”I tried to lift him, grabbing under his arms, but his weight was dead against me, too heavy, and I almost dropped him. Panic clawed up my throat. “Help! Somebody help me!” My scream was raw, desperate. “Pietro!”Footsteps hurried down the hall, and Pietro burst into

ALINABella’s hand trembled as she moved the gun from me to Luca. Her face was pale under the warm lights, a strange mix of grief and fury twisting her features until she barely looked like my mother anymore.“You killed him,” she spat. “How could you? After everything I did for you, for this family, this is how you repay me?” I didn’t look away from my mother's face, and it wasn't because I wasn’t terrified, because I was shaking in my shoes. Every nerve in my body was screaming at me to run, to duck, to scream for help. But Luca was beside me, and if there was a single thing I knew for certain, it was that I wasn’t going to let her hurt him.“Everything you did for me?” My hands curled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms. “You helped Matteo kill my father, Mama. I know what you did. You stood by and watched while he took everything from us, and I forgave you. I didn’t say a word. I swallowed it, even when it burned every time I looked at you. Don’t you dare stan

ARIAThe doors opened, and for a moment I stood still.I was holding my bouquet, and ahead of me was the aisle.And I was suddenly frozen in place. My father was here in his wheelchair, but weeks ago, I had made the choice to walk myself down the aisle. No one was giving me away. I had already given myself away too many times in my life, and this step of tt way and this vowas mine to make. All mine.I moved forward slowly, the train of my dress dragging against the floor, and each step of mine matched my heartbeat.Nyx and Xander were seated in the same row, stiff in their suits, their eyes fixed in opposite directions like magnets turned the wrong way. Neither had spoken a word to the other since everything went sour between them, but still, they had come. That was something. That was love, in its own stubborn shape.I kept walking.I smiled at Reed and Michelle. His arms were around her shoulders, and she looked radiant, her hands resting in her pregnancy bump. Evelyn had claime

ARIA The twins had wormed their way under my blanket again. They always did like two little magnets who believed my arms were made to hold them forever. I wasn’t complaining, especially now when the house finally felt like a house again and not a battlefield I was tiptoeing through. Lark’s giggles bubbled up against my chest as I held him pinned to me, my chin tucked over his soft hair that still smelled like his hair oil. He wriggled, his legs kicking uselessly, the sound so bright and unrestrained that it made something open in my ribs. “Help,” he squealed through his laughter, thrashing as though I were the villain in some great adventure. “Mama won’t let me go!” “You’re my prisoner,” I whispered dramatically into his ear, tightening my hold just enough to make him howl with delight. “Captured forever by me.” Across the bed, Caspian had Nylah by the wrists, letting her swing her tiny fists at his chest while he made exaggerated groans of defeat. “Oh no,” he crie

ARIAIt had been a week since Rowan was dragged out of the lobby in handcuffs, screaming like a man who couldn’t believe the world had stopped revolving around him. A week of statements, lawyers, and headlines that refused to soften. But today wasn’t about Rowan anymore.Today was about the girls.The driveway of the safe house was crowded with FBI vans, tinted windows reflecting the gray morning sky. Agents moved efficiently, guiding the girls toward the vehicles, carrying the small duffel bags they’d been given. Their faces were pale, some pinched tight, others blank with exhaustion. They were being moved again, this time to a long-term facility where therapists and doctors would help them put their lives back together.I stood near the porch steps, my arms wrapped around myself even though the morning wasn’t cold. I tried to look strong, but my throat burned.Sofia broke from the line, jogging to me with her ponytail swinging. She stopped short, her hands holding something tigh

ARIAI stood in the doorway of my office at Zane Corporation, staring at the half-packed boxes on my desk like they were funeral arrangements.That’s what it felt like, boxing up my office because I was done with this place. My five years with Bennett wasn't done yet, but there was no way in hell I was sticking around here. I didn’t even care about anything anymore. He could sue me if he wanted.Caspian leaned against the window, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a file he hadn’t opened once. He wasn’t here to help me carry boxes, he was here because he refused to leave me alone, and though I’d never admit it out loud, I was grateful.“You sure you don’t want me to just send someone?” he asked.I shook my head. “No. I started here. I’ll finish it myself.”He nodded, but his eyes stayed on me, watchful in a way that made my shoulders relax.I picked up the last framed photo on my desk. It was a picture of Nylah and Lark. The frame went into the box with a soft clink. That wa

ARIACaspian groaned, dragging a hand over his jaw like he’d said too much.I was suddenly shaking him. “Tell me please.” He smiled down at me, and there was happiness in his eyes. He reached for me, hugging me hard as though I was about to run. “Yes, I've been working with Duke. We've been bringing the girls Rowan trafficked back here to Luxenburg. We've moved them into the same house so they're safe and protected.”I stared at him, my heart climbing so high in my throat it hurt to swallow. “How many?”“Nine now.”Nine. The word smacked into me like a stone, rattling through every bone in my body. I held the edge of the seat, trembling. My hands wouldn’t stop. My whole body felt as though it belonged to someone else. It was as though this day was giving me everything and not stopping to allow me breath at all.I wasn't sure if I enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster, but I liked knowing those girls were finally safe. There was nothing better than that. “Why didn't you tell me? Why

ARIAI could have thrown the phone right out the window if it was possible. Every time I spoke to Camilla, I wanted to scratch the skin on my face right off.I opened my car door, slammed it shut and stared abruptly out of the windshield “When have I ever pretended to be a hero to Zara, Camilla? Even now you want to pretend our daughter was an angel? She was the fucking devil herself!” Camilla’s shocked silence made me realize the things I'd just said. I sat back, tugging my fingers through my hair.“How dare you, Aria? How could you? Your sister just died and that's all the sympathy you have?” Camilla squeaked in my ears. “She burned all her bridges, Camilla. I'm not sure why you would expect sympathy from the person she hated the most. I'm sorry for your loss though, please have a good day.” I ended the call, sat back and screamed into my fist.Yes, I had been foolish. I could feel the guilt warring with the need to bash my head against the steering wheel. I knew damned well it

CASSIANI smiled as I reached for the back of her neck and pulled her towards me. The second our skins brushed against each other, it was as though a fucking bomb went off. My lips traced down over her neck with heavy intent, sucking, biting, tasting her as though I was starved. Sophia gasped, her lips parted as she moaned. The moan from her lips rattled through me. I sucked harder on her neck, though what I wanted to do was kiss those cupid lips of hers. But touching her was one thing, and kissing was another thing entirely. If I kissed her, I knew I would never let her go when it was time to do so. Her fingers came up to my hair and dug in, until there was just this messy need between us. I pulled away, and took a cuff off the bedroom nightstand. “Take off your clothes, princess.” The words slipped from my lips, and without any hesitation, her fingers found the edge of her panties, and she slid them off in one motion. There was no shyness in her, only desire and willingness,

SOPHIAI heard the sound of his footsteps as they approached me. I looked away, swimming to the far end of the pool. “What do you want, Cassian?” He stopped at the edge of the pool. “I see you're angry at me.” Cassian said simply. “Okay, Sherlock. Anything else you noticed today?” I rolled my eyes, scoffing. I understood that he wanted to have a private conversation with Cristian, especially when he was that furious. Still, it didn't mean he had any right to be so dismissive to me. He'd ordered me out of the room as though I was nothing more than an inconvenience. I liked when he was dominant when it was just us, but I didn't like being screamed at and embarrassed. Big Mike had taken pleasure in doing that to me, and it was traumatic. Cassian stood at the edge of the pool, his thick, muscled arms folded across his chest. He breathed steadily, as if he was trying to regain control of himself. “Come out of the pool, Sophia. We need to talk.” Rolling my eyes again, I ducked unde

SOPHIAMy heart dropped into my stomach. I’d had cause to hate plenty of people in my lifetime, but not as much as I hated Cristian right then. Marching past Cassian, I headed to the door, biting my lip and holding back the words I wanted to spit at him. My grazed arm pulsed painfully as I shoved the door open and stepped outside. I heard his footsteps behind me, and only when we'd gotten into the privacy of the car did I turn to him. My voice was shaking, and I could already feel the tears forming. “Where's he?” It was one thing to detest me, but going after my mother who was innocent in all this? That was an jerk move. His nostrils flared, eyes narrowing into slits. “Who?” “Your brother. Who else?” I swallowed, my eyes welling my tears. “Why the fuck would he do that?” His breath came in quick bursts as his eyes dropped to my lips. I could see the conflict in his eyes. “I'll deal with this myself.” “Oh no, Cassian. Don't give me that bullshit. He did this to my mother. I'll

CASSIANSable stepped closer, her hand reaching for my chest. "I'm stronger now, Cassian. I can take you without running away, and I'm willing to take the pain too. I want you."I caught her wrist before she could touch me, my fingers tight enough to make her wince. "Don't fucking touch me. Go back to your mother, and tell her I'll never marry you again.” Sable and I had married because of her mother's insistence. Marrying her had gotten me ahead, and though I never loved her, I had been faithful to her, never once considering taking a mistress. I had trained her to be my submissive instead, investing time and effort into our marriage, and she'd thrown it all in my face. Sable's eyes filled with tears. "You don't mean that.""I've never meant anything more in my life." My jaw ticked. "What we had is dead, Sable. You killed it when you fucked my brother.""That's not fair! You reconciled with Cristian."I laughed bitterly. “Once we both got over you, that part was easy.” "You hurt

SOPHIASable had cheated on Cassian with his own brother, no wonder there was so much tension between them. Cristian always looked at me like I was the enemy, and he probably thought I'd do the same thing Sable had done to Cassian. Marcus pulled up to the hospital, and I climbed out before he could open my door. "I won't be long. Please wait outside.” "Take your time, Mrs. Winters. I'll be right here."I walked through the hallways, and when I reached my mother's room, I stopped at the door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open.Mom was sitting by the window. When she looked up and saw me, her face broke into the brightest smile I'd seen in months."Soph! Oh sweetheart, I've missed you so much!" She stood, opening her arms.Soph was the nickname she'd called me my entire childhood."Mom, you remember?""Of course I remember my own daughter. How could I forget my Soph?” She pulled back, cupping my face in her hands. "I've missed you so much." I sighed happily. "I've missed

CASSIAN“Mrs. Marchetti, I already told you, I won't be doing business with you anymore.” I gritted out, staring out of my office window. “I'm not sure you want me on your bad side, Cassian. I have too much on you.” “Fine then, go the police. I don't fucking care.” I said coldly, my fist tightening around my phone. If there was one thing I knew about the Marchetti, it was that they would never involve the police. But I also knew she would never take me out, no matter what. “Is that a threat, Cassian?” I chuckled darkly. “Is the police a threat? Considering you have about half of them on your payroll, I wouldn't say so.” “You seem to know too much about my business.” She grunted. “Buy remember, I have evidence of your past, and I won't mind using it if I have to. Sable will be at your office by noon. Attend to her.” She ended the call, and I forced myself to take a deep breath before I lost my temper and did something I'd regret. I knew Melissa Marchetti had evidence on me. I'd