Novels by Alexander Pappoe

The Next Morning...I awoke with an irrepressible feeling of happiness. For the first time, I was... happy and free. Yes, free. Free from Marcus's bondage and the pain he put me through all those years. I still lay on the bed when the door creaked open. It was my love, Ryder. He stood shirtless at the edge of the edge of the bed, a towel slung low around his hips.Such a hottie. I couldn't resist. His abs—they looked carved from marble, more like a supermodel's body. I blinked, still unsure if I was dreaming.He smiled and kissed my forehead. Almost immediately, I felt something electric pass through every part of me.I'd fallen so hard for this guy. He was driving me crazy, literally. Yes, we hadn't known ourselves for a very long time but these past few days with him felt like paradise. He valued me and showed love to me.Unlike that monster, Marcus Reynolds who thought violence was the only way to solve issues.That jerk! "Good morning, trouble," Ryder smirked, and set a tray

“It's… the cops!” Duke exclaimed.My heart dropped.“And… they are not alone. They came with Marcus,” Duke dropped another bombshell.At this point, my heart almost stopped beating.The sirens got louder, closer, echoing through the empty streets outside. Ryder’s jaw clenched. Duke moved fast, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the back of the room.“We gotta hide you,” Ryder said, his voice low but urgent.“Where?” I whispered, panic creeping in.Ryder nodded toward a small door tucked behind the curtains. “Doc’s room. She’s got supplies. You’ll be safe there.”I barely had time to nod before Ryder slid the door open. The room was small and dim, filled with medical gear and the faint smell of antiseptic.“Get in,” Ryder said, pulling me inside. He shut the door quietly behind me.I sank down on the cot, heart pounding so loud I was sure everyone outside could hear it.Minutes passed, each one dragging longer than the last.Then the pounding on the front door started—heavy, dema

The knock on the door kept ringing in my ears long after it stopped. Ryder stood frozen, his hand still on the door handle. I sat still on the bed, my heart beating fast like it wanted to escape my chest.“Who?” I whispered, barely able to breathe.Then the voice came again, soft but clear, “Ryder? Tessa? It’s me.”I blinked, trying to place the voice. Ryder’s hand slowly dropped from the door handle.“Who is it?” I asked again, my voice shaking.Ryder squinted through the crack in the door and then opened it just a bit.“Duke,” Ryder said, relief mixing with concern in his voice.Duke, Ryder's close friend stepped inside, his usual loud laugh nowhere to be seen.He looked tired, worn out, like he’d been through hell. His face was pale, and there was a dark shadow under his eyes.“Took you long enough,” I tried to joke, but it came out weak.Duke gave me a small, tired smile. “Yeah, well, it’s been a hell of a day.”Ryder closed the door behind him and locked it. “What’s going on, Du

Back home, my room felt like a quiet island. I sat by the window, watching the bikers outside. They were showing off their rides, engines rumbling low and loud, lights flashing in the early evening. It was like some kind of rough dance — leather jackets, tattoos, engines growling, engines roaring. They were wild, free in a way I could only dream of. I wanted that freedom. I wanted to be part of that world but without the pain. The sky was turning a soft blue-gray, the kind of color that promised rain or you know, a storm. We were in the rainy season. It made me think of the paintings I wanted to make — wild storms, swirling sky, lightning cracking open the darkness. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, trying to hold onto the calm of the moment. Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door. “Hey,” Ryder’s voice came from the other side. “Mind if I come in?” I smiled to myself and called out, “Come on in.” The door creaked open, and there he was, carrying

2 DAYS LATER…The shower was a small escape. Steam filled the room, wrapping around me like a soft blanket.The hot water ran down my back, washing away the cold and the ache that settled in my bones from last night. It wasn’t just the bruises or the pain — it was the fear, the weight of everything Marcus had done and might still do. I closed my eyes and let the water cover me, hoping it would wash some of the fear away, even if just for a little while.When I finally stepped out, wrapping the towel tight around my body, I felt a soft breeze from the cracked window.I looked around my small room, the one I’d come to call home. And then my eyes landed on something new. A dress, folded neatly on the bed. It was dark—black, maybe navy—soft-looking, something Ryder would pick.My heart jumped. It had to be him.I picked it up slowly, my fingers tracing the fabric. I felt a little silly, like maybe I didn’t deserve something so pretty. But the truth was, I wanted to wear it. I wanted t

RYDER'S POVThe quiet in my room was heavy, thick like the smoke that always seemed to hang around Hellfire. I sat on the edge of my bed, the leather creaking beneath me, and stared at my hands. They looked the same as always—calloused, scarred, strong. But I wasn’t the same.Not anymore.Last night was a storm. Not the kind that roars through the city and leaves destruction in its wake. No, this storm was different. It was inside me. The way Tessa looked, the way she moved, the way she let me in. I’d never felt anything like it.I ran a hand through my hair, trying to make sense of the tangle in my chest. Hellfire was my life—the club, the brothers, the fight.But Tessa… she was something else. Something I never expected to want.The taste of her lips still lingered on mine. The feel of her skin, warm and soft beneath my hands. The way she trembled when I touched her, the way she clung to me when I finally took her. Big and wild and beautiful. My storm.I’d never been good with