Novels by T.A Quinn

I barely had a wink of sleep.Every time I closed my eyes, I heard the woman's voice again."Don't let Lucian Moretti find you first."The words echoed through my mind like a warning I couldn't escape.I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the faded photograph lying beside the silver bracelet. The young woman in the picture smiled so warmly as she cradled the baby in her arms.The baby looked exactly like me.Or maybe I was only imagining it because I wanted answers so badly.I reached for the bracelet, running my thumb over its smooth surface."Who are you?" I whispered.The room offered no reply.A sharp knock at my hotel door startled me.I glanced at the clock.Seven-thirty in the morning.Who could possibly be here this early?After checking through the peephole, I froze.Lucian.He stood in the hallway wearing a charcoal-grey suit, one hand tucked into his trouser pocket. The bandage beneath the collar of his shirt reminded me that only yesterday he'd nearly been killed.I un

Silence lingered in the private hospital suite long after the anonymous call ended.No one spoke.The silver bracelet inside the evidence bag suddenly felt heavier than it should.I looked from the bracelet to Lucian."What did he mean?"Lucian remained quiet."What do you mean, I was the target?"Marco closed the curtains before checking the hallway through the small glass panel."We don't know everything yet, Dr. Brooks.""Then tell me what you do know."Lucian finally stepped forward."The bracelet isn't ordinary."I frowned."It's just something my grandmother gave me.""Are you certain?"His question caught me off guard.I opened my mouth...Then stopped.Growing up, I had never actually asked where it came from.I had simply accepted it as mine.Lucian continued carefully."Twenty-five years ago, two identical bracelets were commissioned from one jeweler.""Only two?"He nodded."They disappeared after a fire that supposedly killed an influential family."A chill crawled down my

The first thing I heard was screaming, then came the sound of shattering glass.People scattered in every direction as panic swept through the ballroom."Get down!"Someone pulled me toward the floor just as another chandelier swayed violently overhead.My eyes searched the crowd until they found him.Lucian.He was still standing.One hand pressed against his left shoulder.Dark blood seeped through the sleeve of his tuxedo.My heart lurched."Mr. Moretti!"Without thinking, I ran toward him."Ariana!" Adrian shouted from behind me."It's dangerous!"I didn't stop.I was a doctor before anything else.By the time I reached Lucian, Marco and several security guards had already formed a protective circle around him."Boss, we need to leave."Lucian ignored him.His eyes remained fixed on me."I'm fine."I frowned."No, you're bleeding.""It's only a scratch."I grabbed his wrist before he could pull away."Sit down."For a brief moment, everyone around us froze.No one spoke to Lucian

music softened, conversations faded into the background as every eye in the ballroom seemed to settle on me.On my left stood Lucian Moretti, calm and unreadable in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo.On my right stood Damien Volkov, wearing an effortless smile that somehow felt more dangerous than welcoming.Both men waited.Neither spoke.Neither looked away.My heart hammered against my ribs."I..."Before I could answer, another familiar voice interrupted the heavy silence."Dr. Brooks."Adrian stepped forward with an apologetic smile."I believe you promised me the first dance."For a second, I stared at him, completely caught off guard.Then I realized what he was doing.He was giving me an escape.A grateful smile spread across my face."I believe I did."I slipped my hand into Adrian's."If you'll excuse us."Without waiting for another response, Adrian led me toward the center of the ballroom as the orchestra began a slow waltz.Behind us, Damien chuckled quietly."Clever."Lu

music softened, conversations faded into the background as every eye in the ballroom seemed to settle on me.On my left stood Lucian Moretti, calm and unreadable in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo.On my right stood Damien Volkov, wearing an effortless smile that somehow felt more dangerous than welcoming.Both men waited.Neither spoke.Neither looked away.My heart hammered against my ribs."I..."Before I could answer, another familiar voice interrupted the heavy silence."Dr. Brooks."Adrian stepped forward with an apologetic smile."I believe you promised me the first dance."For a second, I stared at him, completely caught off guard.Then I realized what he was doing.He was giving me an escape.A grateful smile spread across my face."I believe I did."I slipped my hand into Adrian's."If you'll excuse us."Without waiting for another response, Adrian led me toward the center of the ballroom as the orchestra began a slow waltz.Behind us, Damien chuckled quietly."Clever."Lu

music softened, conversations faded into the background as every eye in the ballroom seemed to settle on me.On my left stood Lucian Moretti, calm and unreadable in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo.On my right stood Damien Volkov, wearing an effortless smile that somehow felt more dangerous than welcoming.Both men waited.Neither spoke.Neither looked away.My heart hammered against my ribs."I..."Before I could answer, another familiar voice interrupted the heavy silence."Dr. Brooks."Adrian stepped forward with an apologetic smile."I believe you promised me the first dance."For a second, I stared at him, completely caught off guard.Then I realized what he was doing.He was giving me an escape.A grateful smile spread across my face."I believe I did."I slipped my hand into Adrian's."If you'll excuse us."Without waiting for another response, Adrian led me toward the center of the ballroom as the orchestra began a slow waltz.Behind us, Damien chuckled quietly."Clever."Lu

The words echoed in the parking garage long after Sophia fell silent.An engagement.Elara stared at Adrian as though she had never seen him before.The man who had slowly earned her trust...The man who had kissed her, protected her, and promised to stop keeping secrets...Had once been engaged.And she was hearing it from someone else.Again."Is she lying?" Elara asked quietly.Adrian didn't answer immediately.That hesitation was all Sophia needed."You see?" Sophia said with a bitter smile. "He always waits too long to tell the truth."Elara's eyes never left Adrian's."I'm asking you."He drew a slow breath."No."Her heart sank."It wasn't a lie."Silence.The words hit harder than she expected.Not because he had once been engaged.But because he had never told her."You promised," she whispered."I know.""You said no more secrets.""I know.""And yet..."Her voice cracked."I'm finding out like this?"Adrian took one step toward her."It wasn't what you think."Sophia laughe

The elevator fell silent.Neither Adrian nor Elara spoke.The phone remained in Adrian's hand, its screen now black, as though the horrifying choice it had presented had never existed.But they had both seen it.His employees.Her brother.One hour.Elara was the first to break the silence."We're getting both."Adrian looked at her."They want us to believe we only have one choice," she continued. "That's exactly why we can't play by their rules."His gaze stayed fixed on her for a long moment."You already have a plan."She nodded."I have the beginning of one."A faint smile appeared despite the circumstances."I've missed this.""What?""The look you get when you're about to do something reckless."She rolled her eyes."I'm strategic.""You're reckless.""I'm strategically reckless."He actually laughed.Only once.Only briefly.But it was enough to cut through the suffocating tension.Then reality returned."We still need to get out of this elevator," Adrian said.He pried open t

The air inside the limousine turned cold.Adrian stared at the photograph on his phone.It had been taken only seconds earlier.The angle wasn't from the street.It wasn't from the reporters.It wasn't from another vehicle.Whoever took it...Was close enough to see through the limousine's tinted windows.Elara noticed the color drain from his face."What is it?"He didn't answer immediately.Instead, he handed her the phone.Her brows knitted together.At first, she saw only the image.Her hand resting in Adrian's.His thumb brushing gently over her fingers.Then she noticed the timestamp.8:57 p.m.She slowly looked up."This was taken...""Less than a minute ago."Her heartbeat quickened."Someone's following us.""No."Adrian's voice remained calm."They're already with us."Silence settled inside the car.The driver continued through Valemont's rain-soaked streets, unaware of the storm brewing behind the privacy partition.Elara looked toward the dark windows.Every passing headl

Blood.For one endless second, it was all Elara could see.A bright crimson stain spread across Adrian's black tuxedo, dripping steadily onto the polished marble floor.The ballroom, moments ago filled with music and laughter, dissolved into chaos.Someone screamed.Another guest dropped to the floor.Crystal glasses shattered as people rushed toward the exits."Get down!""Security!""There's a shooter!"The orchestra stopped playing mid-note.Elara barely heard any of it.Her entire world narrowed to the man standing in front of her."Adrian..."His jaw tightened."It's nothing."She looked at him in disbelief."Nothing?"Blood continued to seep between his fingers where he pressed against his left side."You're bleeding.""I've noticed."Even now...He was trying to stay calm.Trying to reassure her.It only made her heart pound harder.His knees buckled slightly.Without thinking, Elara caught him.The movement pulled painfully at the wound she was still recovering from, but she i

The invitation arrived at exactly nine in the morning.It wasn't delivered by email or through Adrian's assistant. Instead, a man dressed in an immaculate black suit walked into Hale Corporation's headquarters carrying a single ivory envelope sealed with black wax.Every employee watched him cross the marble lobby.He stopped at the reception desk."I'm here for Mr. Adrian Hale."Within minutes, the envelope was resting on Adrian's desk.He stared at the unfamiliar seal.Valemont Royal Charity Foundation.His expression darkened.A knock interrupted his thoughts."You asked to see me?"Elara stepped into his office wearing a fitted cream blouse tucked into black trousers. The bandage beneath her clothes still slowed her movements, but she looked far healthier than she had days ago.Adrian stood immediately."You shouldn't be here."She folded her arms."And good morning to you too.""I told you to stay home.""You also told me not to investigate Marcus."She smiled."I did that anyway

The city of Valemont glittered below the hospital windows, indifferent to the chaos that had unfolded hours ago. Inside, the fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow, making the space feel unreal. Adrian sat rigidly in the chair beside Elara’s bed, watching her chest rise and fall in the slow rhythm of recovery. Even with the bandages and bruises, she looked alive — fragile, yes, but defiant in the way that always made his chest tighten.He hadn’t left her side since she had been wheeled into surgery. Every beep from the monitor, every whispered instruction from the nurses, made his pulse spike. He was accustomed to control, to commanding the rooms he walked into, but this — waiting for her to fight through injuries — stripped him of all composure.“Elara,” he murmured softly, leaning closer so only she could hear.Her eyes fluttered open, hazel meeting his storm-dark gaze. “You look exhausted,” she said faintly, a wry smile tugging at her lips.“I haven’t slept,” he admitted.“You didn