Novels by Author Devie S

The crimson alert on Astrid's wrist vibrated incessantly. On the mini digital display, a red blip flashed rapidly in Sector Seven—the drainage junction and underground emergency conduit along the villa’s rear slope.Violet lightning tore across the pitch-black sky of Oakhaven, silhouetting Astrid where she stood on the upper terrace. Far below the ridge, the muffled roar of floodwaters swallowing the coastal districts still rumbled like a beast, but she refused to let her focus waver for a single heartbeat. In the apocalypse, letting your guard down for one second was an open invitation to an early grave.Moving in utter silence, Astrid slipped into the staging room. She zipped up her waterproof tactical jacket, tugged on reinforced slash-resistant gloves, and pulled a matte-black suppressed pistol and a serrated combat knife from the weapon rack."Nora, seal the lower bulkheads," Astrid’s voice came smooth and level over the tactical earpiece. "Stay in the control hub and keep your e

Thick cordite smoke drifted low over the pulverized asphalt. A sharp stench of sulfur stung the air, mingling with the superheated steam hissing from what was left of Viktor's lead van—now a smoldering wreck.Viktor stood frozen in his tracks. A seasoned street syndicate boss who knew the underworld inside and out, he knew full well that the burst of automatic fire hadn't come from some crude zip gun. That was military-grade hardware with devastating stopping power, fired by a seasoned marksman capable of blowing his brains out in a split second.The villa held the high ground, while the fortified bunker tower across the ridge locked down every possible escape route. They were caught dead in the middle of a crossfire kill zone."Fall back! Get in the damn vans, now!" Viktor roared, his raspy voice cracking with panic.Julian, still sprawling on the asphalt with soaked pants, scrambled on all fours toward Astrid’s gate. "Astrid! Open the gate! Help me! They’re gonna kill me—"Thud!Vik

Camilla’s ragged gasps and hysterical sobbing over the speakerphone didn't elicit even a flicker of emotion from Astrid."Astrid, listen to me!" Camilla shrieked, her frantic voice bouncing off the high ceilings of the living room. "Viktor is a stone-cold killer! Julian’s lost his damn mind over these debts. You have to hand over the money, Astrid! If you don't, they’ll come after me next... they know my penthouse was bought in Julian's name!"A chilling smirk touched Astrid’s lips.In their previous life, Camilla had always played the innocent, helpless doe while whispering poison into Julian’s ear to destroy her. Now, she wasn't calling out of genuine concern for Astrid’s safety; she was terrified of losing her pampered lifestyle and ending up on a mobster's hit list. Camilla just wanted Astrid to play the sacrificial lamb once again—to act as the financial shield cleaning up Julian’s mess, just like she always had."Good," Astrid said, her tone so flat it cut right through Camilla'

The muzzle of the matte-black tactical sidearm tapped against the glass in a slow, rhythmic beat. Metal striking reinforced glass rang out with unmistakable, lethal intent along the deserted mountain road.Yet Astrid Pierce didn't flinch. Her hands rested on the steering wheel, not trembling by a fraction of a millimeter.In her past life, the name Declan Mercer was a living legend among elite mercenary outfits and black-ops circles. He was ruthless, calculating, cold-blooded to the core, and possessed the most savage survival instincts when human civilization collapsed beneath the deluge. Knowing exactly what kind of monster stood outside her car actually made Astrid feel far calmer than dealing with an irrational fool.Instead of panicking, throwing her hands up, or pleading for mercy, Astrid tapped the control on the door panel.Whirrr.The heavy window slid down smoothly—just a couple of inches. It was narrow enough to keep her shielded, yet wide enough to slide through an officia

Julian’s hand halted inches from Astrid’s face. It wasn't out of mercy, but because a burst of mocking laughter suddenly tore from his throat."A divorce?" Julian lowered his hand and scoffed, as if he had just heard the most pathetic joke of the century. "You want to divorce me, Astrid? Don't be ridiculous. You think you can bluff me just because you threw a tantrum over seeing Camilla last night?"Eleanor brushed the shredded paper off her brocade gown, sneering with deep disgust etched into her wrinkled face."Ungrateful, barren wretch!" Eleanor shrilled, thrusting a trembling finger at Astrid’s nose. "The Sterling family took you in for two years! We gave you the honor of being a director's wife! If Julian hadn't been charitable enough to marry you, you’d be nothing more than a lonely orphan rotting away with your grandfather’s inheritance. And now you dare threaten us?"Julian folded his arms over his chest, his arrogant smirk returning. "Drop the cheap drama, Astrid. Apologize t

Freezing floodwaters submerged the top floor of the makeshift hospital up to neck height. The stench of rotting corpses, toxic sludge, and rusted iron choked the air beneath the relentless roar of an apocalyptic storm.Astrid Pierce shivered violently. Her lips had turned a ghastly blue, her fingers were completely numb, and each breath rattled painfully in her throat. Clinging to the last shreds of her strength, she clutched a portable oxygen tank and a single pack of ration biscuits against her chest—her final lifeline after three days stranded without food.That hope was ruthlessly torn away.A familiar pair of hands clamped down on her wrists. Her husband, Julian Sterling, wrenched the tank from her grip. Behind him, Camilla Hayes—the woman Astrid had once considered her best friend—huddled safely atop a gurney, a dry blanket draped over her shoulders."Julian, please... let go..." Astrid rasped, her desperate tears instantly washed away by the murky water. "I can't breathe..."Ju