Novels by Crown Biz

CHAPTER SIXTY FOURIAN'S POV Here I was, thinking we were finally heading back to his place to rest, completely unaware that we were trailing behind a truck after the long series of paranoid instructions he had barked out earlier."Argh..." I signed my frustration aloud with a heavy sigh, shifting in the leather seat.Callum quickly glanced to his side, his brow furrowing slightly. "Hope there's no problem, Ian?""I'm not sure," I said, trying to keep my voice cool and even."What is it?" he asked again, his tone laced with genuine worry."I just don't get why we have to follow the truck when you could just clock out and rest, Cal.""Ohhh, that," he mouthed, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips."It's not funny, Cal," I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest."Sorry, my bad," he said softly, softening his posture. "You were saying something before...""Yeah," I murmured, staring out the passenger window as the neon lights began to reflect across the pavement. "The Velvet

CHAPTER SIXTY THREECALLUM'S POV Watching him slide into the Aston Martin, the sight of his relief made my own chest finally unclench. But as I pulled into traffic, the ticking clock in my head started—today was supposed to be mine, and yet, the relentless interruptions were already threatening to tear us apart again.The drive to the restaurant was a blur of flashing streetlights and heavy silence, the low purr of the Aston Martin's engine the only sound filling the cabin. But the moment we pulled into the familiar, discreet lot behind the restaurant, the heavy knot in my stomach loosened just a fraction.We stepped out into the cool air, and before we even reached the back service entrance, the heavy wooden door swung open.Nonnie stood there in her signature apron, her eyes instantly softening the second they landed on us. Before Ian could even say a word, Nonnie pulled us both into her arms in a fierce, enveloping hug that immediately chased away the chill of the night."Look

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO KAI'S POV I was surprised and shocked at the same time. Ian? Two-faced? What the hell? He looked like an absolute saint to the rest of the world.Or was she just teasing me? I glanced sideways at her under the faint neon glow of the dashboard lights—she looked far too serious right now to be joking around."You're not joking, right?" I asked her, needing to be completely sure before I built my next move on her words.Cora looked out the passenger window, a quiet smirk playing on her lips. "Maybe I'm just pulling your leg.""Pulling whose leg?" I snapped, my temper flaring instantly as I brought the car to a sudden halt. "Did I bring you in here to play pranks with me?""My time is precious too, Kai," she replied, her voice turning razor-sharp as she faced me. "You don't expect me to sit here and badmouth Ian just because we had a rift. And mind you—I don't have anything else to say to you. Drop me off."She was infuriating. Absolutely impossible to manipulate. Wit

CHAPTER SIXTY ONEKAI'S POV "You really are as crazy as they say," she whispered softly, her eyes studying me with a slow, calculating intensity. "Alright, Kai. You want to break his quiet little life apart? I'll tell you about Ian. But it's going to cost you.”"A price?" I repeated, letting out a short, harsh laugh that held no real humor. "You’re sitting in my car, looking at a guy who practically owns half this campus, and you think you’re in a position to negotiate?"Cora didn't even flinch. She simply tilted her head, her dark eyes glittering under the faint neon glow of the dashboard lights."I know exactly what position I'm in, Kai," she said, her voice dropping into a smooth, deliberate cadence. "You don't care about me, and you certainly don't care about whatever mess I'm running from. But you are obsessed with taking Ian down. And what I hold in my head is the one thing that will strip away his sweet, innocent act forever."My grip tightened on the leather-wrapped steering

CALLUM'S POV Ian can't just breathe a second without his nonnie, huh?The thought flickered through my head as the phone continued its violent, relentless buzz against the marble counter, shattering the intimate stillness we'd built inside Cloud Nine.I groaned softly against the crook of Ian's neck, tightening my hands possessively around his waist to pull him flush against my chest. I wasn't ready to let the real world intrude back in. But with a soft, breathless laugh that warmed my skin, Ian reluctantly pulled back, reaching behind him to grab the phone and swipe the screen open.Roy’s sharp, stressed voice chipped in through the speaker immediately, loud enough for me to hear every word."It's my day off, and you're still nowhere to be found!""No," Ian replied, holding the phone to his ear while his free hand rested against my chest, his fingers lightly tracing my collarbone. "I have urgent things to attend to.""Just drag your foot here!" Roy snapped back, the chaotic clatter

CHAPTER FIFTY NINEIAN'S POV Kai again.I jolted to my feet the exact second Cal checked the CCTV monitor and stared at the screen, his expression tightening as he recognized the figure standing outside.I let out a shaky, deep sigh, my fingers trembling slightly as I pulled out my phone to check for any updates, trying to mask the sudden panic crawling up my throat. Cal stood up from the console, turning his back to me as he buzzed the intercom."Hey, Mia, what's up?" Cal called out, his voice sharp and impatient from inside the suite."I'm fine," I heard her voice float through the speaker, tinny and breathless."Why are you here? What's your business here?""Nothing, just wanted to say hi.""Thanks, but I'm busy. And don't come back here again.""Okay, catch up later.""Don't even expect me, 'cause I won't show up today.""Like I said, I'm busy.""Why now?" she whined through the speaker."No whining. Just go down to the secretary and collect my card, treat yourself, bye," he sna