Novels by Mirah Praise

When I got to my dorm, I went straight to my bed to lay down.thoughts ran through my mind.“How did I let this happen?”Yeah ….I just had sex with my best friend's brother.And I know she's not gonna take this lightly with me. She had warned me never to get involved with her brother. She always says she loses friendships over him. That anyone who gets in his way ends up out of her life...And I don't want to lose her. I can’t because she's been the very best girl I've ever had …the real one, actually I've never really had friends cause I've always been the new girl… My dad was a surgeon before he died, and his job moved us around constantly. Different countries. Different cities. Different schools. Just when I started getting comfortable somewhere, we packed up againAfter his death, my mom and I moved one last time.She promised this would be the final move….and it's been two years now That's when i met Liya Wilson From the first day, we connected and became inseparable like soul

The brass door handle violently twisted back and forth from the outside hallway.I froze instantly on the hard black lab table. My heart leaped directly into my throat, beating so hard it felt like it would burst through my skin. My hand shot up automatically, my fingers clamping tightly over my own mouth to stop a breathless gasp from escaping.Leo did not move an inch. He stayed perfectly still inside my personal space, his massive frame pinning me down against the flat surface. His lower body was still locked tightly between my thighs, keeping us completely fused together in the dark gap between the counters. His broad chest was heaving hard, pressing heavily against my breasts with every ragged, uneven breath he took. His face was just inches from mine, his dark eyes wide and completely pitch-black as they bored straight into my pupils, commanding absolute, total silence."Arthur?" the loud, gruff voice barked again through the thick wood of the door. "Are you in there? I know I h

The clock on the wall of the basement biology lab hummed quietly, the hands slowly ticking past 5:30 PM. The rest of the class had left over an hour ago, leaving me completely alone in the cold, sterile room. The air smelled sharply of rubbing alcohol and old chemical cleaners. I kept my head down, staring into the bright lens of the microscope, trying with everything I had to focus on drawing the plant cell structures into my spiral notebook. My mind was still spinning from Jax's warnings in the hallway earlier, making my hands shake every time I tried to line up the pencil.The sudden, heavy sound of wood sliding against metal cut through the silence of the room.My head snapped up instantly, my eyes darting toward the main entrance. The heavy wooden door had just closed, and the brass thumb-turn lock was twisted completely horizontal from the inside."Who's there?" I called out, my voice tight and thin as I stood up from my high metal stool. "The lab is closed to the public right n

"Thanks again, Mason," I said quickly, my fingers tightening over the heavy stack of textbooks as I shuffled backward toward the glass entrance of the science hall. My heart was pounding against my ribs like an escaped prisoner, my mind still totally stuck on the sight of Leo crushing that soda can at the top of the stairs. "I can take them from here. Really. You should get to practice."Mason let his hand drop from my elbow, though his left-cheek dimple showed as he offered a warm smile. "Are you sure, Ivy? I can carry them right up to your classroom door. It's no trouble at all.""No, no, I'm totally fine," I insisted, my voice sounding a little too breathless, a little too frantic. I gave him a quick, tight nod, desperately trying to look natural. "You've already done way too much. I'll see you around, Mason.""Alright. Just remember what I said about Maria," Mason called out, taking a step back toward the quad. "If she steps out of line again, you tell me immediately. Don't handle

"Watch where you're going, freshman!"The sharp, mocking voice hit me at the exact same moment a heavy shoulder slammed violently into mine. The impact sent a painful shock straight down my arm, completely breaking my grip on the massive stack of library textbooks I was hauling across the green campus quad.The heavy volumes flew out of my arms, crashing loudly onto the damp grass and concrete path. Pages bent, heavy covers split open, and papers scattered in every direction under the bright morning sun."Oh, look at that. The little mouse dropped her cheese," Gloria jeered, stopping right in front of me with her hands on her hips. Meg stood right next to her, crossing her arms and letting out a loud, ugly laugh."You guys did that on purpose," I said, my voice shaking with a mix of fury and embarrassment as the students sitting on the nearby benches turned their heads, starting to whisper and snicker."Prove it," Meg sneered, deliberately stepping forward so her designer sneaker crus

"I’m not doing this anymore," I whispered to myself, my hand trembling as I reached for the heavy iron handle of the basement door.The clock on my phone screen lit up. 4:02 PM. I was two minutes late, and my chest felt like it was being crushed under a pile of bricks. I had left Liya back at the courtyard table with a terrible excuse about needing to run a quick errand at the student union building. The guilt was eating me alive, twisting my stomach into tight knots.I pulled the heavy door open.The air inside hit me like a physical wall. It was thick, boiling hot, and suffocatingly heavy with the sharp smell of old rust, hot steam, and dry, choking dust. The deep hum of the massive water tanks vibrated right through the concrete floor, shaking the soles of my sneakers. I took one step down the iron stairs, my fingers gripping the rusty handrail.Slam.The door snapped shut behind me, the heavy latch clicking into place with a loud, metallic echo.Before I could even blink, a massiv

The heavy oak doors swung open. I didn't even try to hide the paper. I stood right there by the mahogany desk, my fingers crushing the printed sheet of my freshman university schedule, my knuckles completely white.Damiano walked in. It was late, and the sharp scent of smoke, wet asphalt, and rain rolled off his black wool coat. He looked tired, but the moment his black eyes hit the paper in my hand, his face hardened into a familiar stone wall."You're supposed to be resting," Damiano said, his deep baritone cutting through the quiet room. He didn't look at Matteo, who was standing by the door with a thick wool blanket in his hands. "Leave us, Matteo.""Boss," Matteo nodded, dropping the blanket onto the sofa before quickly stepping out, clicking the door shut behind him."What is this?" I demanded, my voice shaking as I held the paper up between us. "Tell me right now what this is, Damiano!"Damiano didn't blink. He walked over, unbuttoning his coat with slow, deliberate movements,

"I don't want you to kiss me," I whispered, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to sound strong. I tried to pull my wrists from his grip, but his fingers remained locked like iron bands. "I want you to get away from me."Damiano didn't let go. His black eyes stayed completely fixed on my mouth, his own breathing heavy and hot against my skin. "Your lips say one thing, Valentina, but your pulse is telling me something completely different.""My pulse is racing because you're a criminal who just dragged me into a concrete hole while people shot at us!" I snapped, leaning back as far as his grip would allow. "Let go of my hands. Now."For a second, I thought he was going to ignore me. The physical heat between us in the small bunker felt thick enough to choke on. But then, a sharp, static buzz cut through the silence.The intercom on the concrete wall beeped loudly. Viktor's voice came barking through the small speaker."Boss? Can you hear me? The perimeter is clear. The shooters cl

"Move! Now!" Damiano roared against my ear.The automatic gunfire was still chewing through the walls of the bedroom, sending chunks of wood and plaster raining down on us. He didn't wait for me to answer. He yanked me up by my arm, keeping his large body positioned between me and the shattered window, and shoved me toward a wood-paneled walk-in closet."They're going to get inside!" I yelled, my voice cracking as my bare feet slipped on the loose shards of glass covering the carpet."They won't," Damiano grunted, slamming his hand against a hidden latch disguised as a clothing rack inside the closet.A heavy section of the wall clicked and swung inward, revealing a steep, concrete staircase illuminated by dim, low lights. He pushed me inside first, immediately slamming the reinforced steel door shut behind us. The sudden silence was absolute. The thudding echo of the gunfire outside vanished completely, cut off by inches of solid steel and concrete."Are you hit?" I gasped, my chest

"I am not sleeping in that bed," I said, my voice cutting through the quiet room.Damiano didn't even look back at me as he walked toward the bathroom door. "Suit yourself, Valentina. But the floor gets incredibly cold by two in the morning.""I'd rather freeze on the floor than touch anything that belongs to you," I shot back, crossing my arms tightly over my chest.He didn't reply. The heavy bathroom door clicked shut behind him, followed by the sudden, steady hiss of running water.I whirled around and scanned the room, looking for any possible exit. The bedroom was massive, dominated by a king-sized bed with dark silk sheets that looked like a trap. The walls were lined with dark wood paneling, and a massive set of floor-to-ceiling glass windows looked out over the pitch-black grounds of the estate. I hurried over to the windows, my fingers desperately searching the frame for a latch, a lock, anything.Nothing. They were completely sealed, solid panes of heavy glass that wouldn't

"Stand down," Damiano said.His voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the dead silence of the grand ballroom like a blade. The six security guards hesitated for a fraction of a second, their gun barrels still leveled squarely at my chest, before they slowly lowered their weapons and stepped back into the shadows of the stage.Before I could even take a breath, Damiano’s hand shot out. His fingers clamped around my right wrist like a steel handcuff, the pressure immediate and absolute."Let go of me!" I yelled, digging my heels into the carpeted steps of the stage as he wrenched me forward."Keep your mouth shut and walk," he growled, not even looking back at me.He dragged me off the platform, his strides long and aggressive. The crowd of elite guests parted instantly, pulling back to create a wide path as if we were a pair of live wires ready to snap. The frantic whispering started up again, a low buzz of shock and judgment filling the room, but Damiano ignored it completely. He pull

"Walk," Damiano said, his palm slamming flat against the small of my bare back.The fabric of the black silk dress was so thin it felt like ice against my skin. It clung to every single curve, the back cut entirely open down to my waist, leaving me feeling exposed under the harsh, blinding lights of the grand ballroom."Don't push me," I snapped under my breath, my heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floor."Then keep your feet moving," he murmured back, his grip tightening. His hand felt like a burning iron weight on my skin, his fingers digging in just enough to remind me exactly who was in control. "Smile, Valentina. The press is watching.""Let them watch," I hissed, keeping my eyes locked straight ahead.The room was absolutely packed. Hundreds of people in expensive tuxedos and glittering gowns stood in clusters, their conversations a loud, overlapping roar that made my ears ring. Heavy-set security guards with earpieces stood at every single exit, their arms cros

(MALDIE POV)The morning air felt like lead. Ten years. Ten years since the bridge, the water, and the silence that followed. I sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the locket—the empty, bugged locket—and stared at the wall. My father’s birthday. The anniversary of his death. To the world, it was a tragedy. To me, it was the day the lights went out.I expected silence. I expected a day of mourning. Instead, I found a circus.When I walked downstairs, the mansion was buzzing. Caterers were scurrying through the halls with silver trays. Huge floral arrangements—lilies, his favorite, but arranged in a way that looked corporate and cold—lined the foyer."What is all this?" I asked, my voice sounding small against the clinking of crystal.Richard appeared, looking sharp in a bespoke suit. He smiled, that practiced, fatherly beam that now made my skin crawl. "Maldie! You’re finally up. It’s a big day. A celebration of life for your father. I’ve invited the board, the press, and the local e

(MALDIE POV)The archive basement felt like a tomb. The air was thick with the scent of decaying paper and the cold, metallic tang of the ventilation system. My heart was a frantic bird trapped in my ribs, drumming against my chest as I scrambled deeper into the stacks. "Maldie, slow down," I whispered to myself, my breath hitching. I ignored the shadows dancing between the shelves. I had to find it. Row 42 was a blur of gray metal and cardboard boxes until I saw the label: ACCIDENT REPORTS – 2016.I yanked a heavy, dust-caked folder from the shelf. My hands shook so violently the papers nearly spilled onto the floor. "Come on, come on," I hissed, flipping through the pages.Case File: 774-B. Deceased: Elias Sams. Location: Forestwood Bridge.I found the initial report. My eyes skimmed the familiar details—the weather conditions, the time of impact, the description of my father’s car. But then I turned the page to the section labeled Involved Vehicles/Third Party Evidence.My blood

(MALDIE POV)***********************************The fluorescent lights of the Forestwood Academy cafeteria hummed with a predatory energy. I sat at a corner table, my fingers tracing the scarred wood, trying to keep my breathing steady. After the morning I’d had with Richard, the school was supposed to be a reprieve. It wasn't."Oh, look, the charity case is hungry," a voice drawled.I didn't have to look up to know it was Olive. She stood over me, flanked by her usual entourage of girls who smelled like expensive perfume and elitism. Olive reached down and snatched my brown paper bag—the meager lunch I’d packed myself because I didn't trust the staff at the mansion."Give it back, Olive," I said, my voice tight."This?" She held the bag up between two manicured fingers as if it were a biohazard. "Maldie, honey, you live in that massive hand-me-down mansion now. Surely Richard provides better than... What is this? A peanut butter sandwich?""It’s none of your business. Give it to me.

(MALDIE POV)***********************************I didn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that tiny, unblinking glass lens hidden in the vent. My skin felt like it was crawling with invisible ants. When the sun finally started bleeding through the curtains of the estate, I dragged myself out of bed, my head throbbing. I had to look normal. If Richard was watching….and I knew now that he was………I couldn't let him see the terror.I walked into the dining room, my footsteps echoing on the marble. Richard was already there, sitting at the head of the table, reading the morning paper. He looked up, and for a second, I flinched, but he just beamed at me."Good morning, Maldie. You look a bit pale, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?""I'm fine, Richard," I lied, my voice cracking. "Just a headache."He stood up, but not to pull out my chair. He gestured to the spread of food. "Sit, eat. You need your strength. Actually, I have something that might make you feel better."He reached into

(MALDIE POV)*************************************I barely managed to slip through the side entrance of the estate, my lungs burning from the sprint through the fog………… The silver key was still biting into the palm of my hand, a cold reminder of the vault and the nightmare I’d just escaped……. I just needed to get to my room…….I needed to lock the door and breathe.But the house wasn't empty.A hand, thick and calloused, shot out from the darkness of the West Wing corridor. It clamped around my throat…………not squeezing, but firm enough to kill my scream before it could leave my lips…... "Going somewhere, Maldie?"David. He didn't wait for an answer….. He hauled me backward, his fingers digging into the silk of my sleeves as he dragged me deeper into the shadows, far from the light of the main foyer. He moved with a predatory silence that made my skin crawl and tingle all at once. "David, let go! You’re hurting me!" I hissed, clawing at his forearm………... It was like trying to scratch

(MALDIE POV)***************************The fog was a thick, wet blanket over the pier……I could barely see my own feet as I hurried toward the old boathouse. My heart was thumping against my ribs like a trapped bird. The note had promised the truth about my father, and I wasn't going to miss it for anything.I reached the heavy wooden door and pushed……. It creaked loudly."You're late, Maldie….."The voice didn't come from a stranger……. It was deep, smooth, and instantly recognizable. I stepped inside and squinted through the gloom……. He was there, sitting in a plush leather chair that looked far too expensive for this rotting shack………"Julian?" I gasped, slamming the door behind me to keep out the chill. "You sent the note? Why the mystery?""Because mystery gets your attention," he said. He didn't get up………He just sat there, the light from a single lantern carving out the sharp lines of his jaw. "And right now, I want all of it.""I thought this was about my father's files," I said