Novels by Riella.N

KADEN Patience was never Catherine’s strength. It was mine. I sat in my study, bourbon in hand, watching the live feed set up across the house. Kitchen. Hallway. Living room. Catherine had gone out with her friend when I had the cameras installed. I had called Mia back to continue working seeing as my wife had told her to get lost forever. If she was a spy she would fall for the bait. The door pushed open and Catherine walked in. “She’s been in the hallway twice in the last hour,” she said, dropping onto the chair across from me. “I know.” Catherine had come back quite drunk last night. I had filled her in this morning so she wouldn’t mess up the plan. “She was near my room when I opened the door earlier.” “I know.” She really had a problem with being patient. “Kaden…” “Catherine.” I looked up from the screen. “Sit down and stop walking past her every chance you get. You’re going to tip her off.” She opened her mouth. Closed it. Sat back down. “So we just wait,” she said

CATHERINE “Everything is just not making sense, Elena.” I swivel my chair around, tapping my fingers on the desk. I looked around my father’s office, feeling a sense of peace, which is weird despite all the dealings that have been going on in my life lately. “So you’re telling me that you and Dean did not meet by coincidence? All this was set up, from the very beginning he met you?” She looks perplexed by what I’ve just told her. I needed a friend to talk to, and I know I can trust Elena. She’s the last person on earth to betray me. She stood and checks if the door is properly locked. I sigh and roll my eyes. Typical Elena. “Does your husband know about all this? I mean, Dean being sent to you from the very beginning?” Lord help me, I muttered internally. She’s sweet, but I can’t stand the sort of questions she asks sometimes. “Of course he knew. Who do you think has been helping me all this while? I know contacts, but not enough to gather that sort of information, so ye

KADEN “I need you to run every surveillance there is in this city. I want to know what happened and how it happened.”I lounged on the couch watching Mojo do whatever it was he did that kept those computers running, a bourbon dangling from my hand.I dropped the drink, picked up a cigarette and lit it while I waited for Mojo to give me something.“Nobody just disappears without a trace. He has been silenced.” Mojo nodded while he worked.Catherine went to the company today — whoever was behind all this probably wanted to see her fumble. But my girl is strong. She won’t go down without a fight.“I found something.” I looked up.“Hit me.”“The vehicle that was transporting him to the cell was fake, it was swapped, or Dean was never in it. The surveillance around the area was wiped clean. Time window: twenty minutes. I’ve gone over the scene.” He pointed to a route on the screen. “If I see a wiped surveillance I will know. Whoever did this is equally a professional hacker to pull this o

CATHERINE The car drive back home was silent. Kaden was on his phone throughout the ride, which was good because I could not look him in the eye after last night.I kept my gaze on the window, watching the city replace the ocean slowly. I was back to reality.I snuck a glance at him. He was still scrolling through his phone, his jaw tight. He looked unbothered, as if the beach house had not happened, as if last night had not happened, as if he had not had his fingers inside me. I mentally kicked myself for letting him get to me like this.We pulled into the garage and neither of us spoke until we were in the elevator.“You’re quiet,” he said, eyes still on his phone.“So are you.” I scoffed slightly.“I’m working.”“So am I.”He looked up at me then. That look — the one that made me feel like he knew something I didn’t, like he could see exactly what I was thinking and found it amusing.“What are you working on?” he asked.“Minding my business. You should try it sometimes.”His lips

CATHERINE The ocean was the first thing I heard when I opened my eyes. I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, before I quietly slipped out of bed, made myself a cup of tea and padded out to the shore. The sand was cool under my feet. The sun was just coming up, everywhere was quiet and I loved the peace the air brought. I stood there with my cup and just breathed. No threats, no boardroom, just this, the quiet. I don’t know how long I stood there before I heard footsteps behind me. “You’re up early,” Kaden said. I looked over at my husband, who I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about. I didn’t buy his bullshit yesterday about just visiting, he did this for me. “So are you.” He stopped beside me, hands in his pockets, looking out at the water like he owned it too. “Did you follow me out here?” “I came for the view.” “The view? And when did you start liking this sort of thing?” I teased him. He said nothing, the corner of his lips twitching slightly. I sipped my

KADENI looked out at the city from the study, nursing a glass of whiskey in my hand. I took a sip, the liquid scorching a path down my throat as I thought about Catherine.My whole life I’ve been in control. I’ve been ruthless in what I want, manipulated people into getting what I want. This stupid tradition of my family is what led me to Catherine, she needed an anchor, I needed a wife. But I never thought I would be getting the full package with her.I’ve never wanted a wife — to be tied to someone, but things have changed and I know it.Catherine is growing on me. I’ve never fucked a woman twice, but with her it’s different. I want to own her, claim her in every way possible, ruin her for other men.My teeth clenched at the thought of Catherine with another man, his hands on her soft body. That will never happen. Catherine is mine and I don’t intend to let her go.Her problems are now my problems and I will scorch to the ends of the earth to find out who’s messing with my wife.I