Novels by Unique

Kendall noticed it first in the smallest ways.Bianca was suddenly… present. Not in the obvious, in-your-face kind of way her stepsister was known for, but in these careful, measured appearances always when Jack was around.At first, Kendall thought nothing of it. Maybe Bianca was just being polite. Maybe she’d finally grown out of that phase of rolling her eyes every time Kendall mentioned her husband. But the change was so smooth, so deliberate, that it started to gnaw at her.It began the next morning. Jack was seated at the kitchen counter, scrolling through emails, when Bianca breezed in wearing a casual tank top and jeans that still managed to look like a photoshoot.“Good morning,” she said cheerfully, like they were old friends. “I made fresh coffee.”Jack glanced up, mildly surprised. “Morning.”Kendall, who was rinsing fruit at the sink, turned her head. “You? Make coffee?”Bianca laughed. “Well, I can try, can’t I? Jack works so hard figured I’d help him start the day righ

The hallway was quiet except for the faint hum of voices drifting from Jack’s study.Veronica wasn’t the type to eavesdrop at least, that’s what she always told herself but tonight, the sound of Jack’s low, confident tone pulled her feet to a halt.She hadn’t heard him speak like that before. Not around Kendall. Not around anyone in the family.“…transfer the shares to my account by next week. I’ll handle the board,” Jack was saying. “Yes. And make sure the press doesn’t get wind of the Singapore deal until after the contracts are signed.”Veronica’s brows knitted together. Shares? Board? Singapore deal?That wasn’t the language of a struggling man barely making rent, the way Kendall’s husband had always been described.Jack’s voice deepened, steady and controlled, a tone that suggested authority real authority.When the conversation ended with a crisp, “I’ll have my assistant send the updated figures,” she instinctively stepped back into the shadows. The door opened, and Jack emerged

Kendall pressed herself against the side of a shipping container, heart pounding so loudly she was sure it would give her away. From her position, she could see Jack on his knees under the flickering warehouse light, Beauty circling him like a predator savoring the moment before the kill.Adrian leaned lazily against a stack of crates, arms folded, watching Jack with smug satisfaction. “You’ve gotten slower,” he taunted. “I almost miss the old you the one who could clear a room before anyone knew what happened.”Jack’s eyes stayed locked on Beauty. “If you’ve dragged Kendall into this, Adrian, I swear”Beauty’s laughter cut him off, sharp and cold. “Oh, she’s already in it, Jack. She just doesn’t know how deep yet.”Kendall’s phone buzzed again. “Now or never. Step inside and I’ll tell you who Jack really is.” Her throat tightened. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but her feet refused to move. She needed to know.Inside the warehouse, Beauty tilted her head, studying Jack with m

The city was still sleeping when Jack stepped out of the black sedan, the night air cool against his face. It had been three hours since the flames swallowed the yacht whole, but the acrid smell of burning fuel still clung to his clothes, a ghost of the chaos he’d just survived.Kendall was safe at least for now. He’d made sure of that before disappearing into the shadows. He couldn’t stay by her side tonight. Not yet. Not until he knew exactly how far Beauty was willing to go.Jack’s contact was already waiting. Raul, an information broker who thrived in the city’s underworld, leaned against the hood of his battered Jeep. His sharp eyes swept over Jack, noting the soot on his sleeves, the tension in his jaw.“Rough night?” Raul asked casually.Jack’s reply was curt. “I need everything on Beauty. Now.”Raul smirked, as if the request amused him. “You’re not the only one looking for her. She’s been busy making calls, moving cash, burning bridges. But the real kicker? She’s meeting some

The lake shimmered under the moonlight, a wide sheet of silver framed by dark trees. It was supposed to be a peaceful escape, the kind of place where lovers came to breathe. But tonight, the air was electric with the tension between Jack and Kendall.They had come here after a heated argument, the drive filled with silence so thick it felt suffocating.Kendall stood on the dock, her arms wrapped around herself, staring at the reflection of the moon. She could feel Jack’s gaze on her back but refused to turn.“You’re quiet,” he said finally, his voice low.“I’m thinking,” she replied, still not looking at him.“About what?”“About whether I can keep doing this,” she said, her tone sharper than she intended.Jack’s jaw tightened. “Doing what?”“This” she spun to face him, her hair catching the light. “Living in constant fear. Wondering when Beauty will pop up next, what stunt she’ll pull, what part of my life she’ll try to destroy. I’m tired, Jack. I’m so tired.”He stepped closer, his

The city lights blurred past as Kendall drove, her hands gripping the wheel tighter than she realized. Jack sat beside her, silent, staring out the rain-speckled window. Every so often, he checked the side mirror, scanning for a tail.“You want to tell me what that was?” she finally asked, her voice sharp.Jack didn’t look at her. “That was me walking into a setup and walking out alive.”“You weren’t the only one in danger,” she shot back. “If Sebastian hadn’t shown up”Jack turned his head then, his eyes cold. “Sebastian didn’t save me, Kendall. He came to kill me.”Her breath caught. “Then why?”“He’s playing his own game. Always has.”They drove in tense silence until Kendall pulled into the underground garage of Jack’s apartment building. The security gate rattled shut behind them.Jack stepped out first, scanning the shadows before motioning for her to follow. The rain outside was a steady hiss, muffled by the concrete walls.Inside the elevator, Kendall leaned back against the m

The night air outside the cabin was sharp and cold, but inside, the tension burned hotter than ever. Callie stood by the window, watching the silhouette of the forest sway under the moonlight. She could still feel the echo of Veronica’s words, and her heart refused to settle.Xander paced the room, hands clenched at his sides. “She’s not bluffing,” he muttered, voice tight with frustration. “Veronica knows exactly how to get under my skin.”Callie turned to him. “We can’t let her win. We have to be smarter.”He stopped pacing and looked at her, eyes dark and stormy. “It’s not just Veronica anymore. My father… he’s pulling every string he has. They want to see me broken.”She stepped closer, searching his face. “Then we’ll have to break back harder.”The weight of the situation was sinking in. Xander’s father was no longer just a distant figure; he was a direct threat, one with the resources to ruin everything. And Veronica was playing a dangerous game, one that put Callie right in the

The secluded cabin had become their sanctuary, a fragile bubble in a world that seemed intent on bursting it. Days blurred into nights, each one marked by whispered conversations and shared glances that spoke volumes. Yet, beneath the surface of their growing bond, a storm was brewing one neither of them could have anticipated.Callie sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers tracing the delicate silver key Xander had given her. The pendant had become a symbol of their connection, a tangible reminder of the promises they’d made. But as the days passed, doubt began to creep in. Veronica’s threats loomed large, and the weight of their situation pressed heavily on her chest.Xander entered the room, his expression unreadable. “We need to talk.”Her heart skipped a beat. “About what?”“About us,” he replied, his voice steady but tinged with something she couldn’t place.She stood, facing him. “Xander, I”Before she could continue, there was a sharp knock at the door. Both of them froze.“Wh

The city was restless beneath the veil of night, a sprawling maze of flickering streetlights and shadowed alleys. Callie gripped Xander’s hand tighter, her fingers digging into his palm as they moved swiftly down the nearly deserted sidewalk. Each step echoed with the quiet tension of uncertainty, a silent warning that danger still trailed just behind them.Xander’s gaze never faltered, sharp and alert as he scanned the darkness. “We need to get somewhere safe,” he said in a low voice, almost a growl. “Somewhere Veronica can’t touch us.”Callie nodded, swallowing the lump rising in her throat. “Where?”He gave her a fleeting look, something softer beneath the usual hard edge. “I have a place. Not far from here.”They slipped into a sleek black car waiting patiently at the curb, the driver’s eyes flicking briefly to Xander before they were whisked away through the city streets. The hum of the engine was a steady pulse beneath the silence.Callie rested her head lightly on Xander’s shou

The early morning light slipped quietly through the blinds, painting thin golden stripes across the floorboards. Callie lay still in the bed, her eyes tracing the soft outline of the ceiling as her mind raced. The night had been too short, filled with whispered promises and the lingering warmth of Xander’s kiss, but the peace it promised felt fragile like a thin glass ready to shatter.Beside her, Xander’s steady breathing was a quiet reassurance, but it wasn’t enough to silence the unease coiling in her stomach. The shadows cast by the room’s dim light seemed to stretch longer, twisting into shapes that echoed the threats she felt looming over them.Her fingers brushed across the cool surface of her phone resting on the bedside table. It buzzed quietly, the screen lighting up with a message from an unknown number.“You think you’re safe? Think again.”Callie’s heart skipped. She knew who it was from before she even unlocked the message.She reached out, gently shaking Xander awake. H

Callie’s hands were still trembling hours after the morning’s chaos. She sat curled up on the couch, knees tucked beneath her, a blanket draped over her legs. The apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioning, but her mind was anything but still.She couldn’t erase the image of Xander standing in that office, defending her as if nothing else in the world mattered. The way his voice had cut through the room, unwavering, left her both breathless and terrified.The sound of the door unlocking pulled her from her thoughts. A moment later, Xander stepped inside, the faint scent of his cologne mingling with the crisp evening air. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it for a second, his eyes finding hers instantly.“You’re still awake,” he said softly, as though speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile quiet between them.Callie tried for a small smile. “Couldn’t sleep.”He crossed the room and crouched down in front of her, his gaze searching her face.

The storm had passed by morning, leaving the city washed clean, but for Xander, the sky could have been black as midnight. He sat at the head of the conference table in a private meeting with his most trusted inner circle Aidan, his legal adviser, and two senior members of his security team.“We’re not playing defense anymore,” Xander began, his voice low but edged with steel. “If Veronica and Alaric want to believe they’ve cornered me, I’ll give them exactly what they want a reason to think they’re winning.”Aidan leaned forward. “Meaning?”“Meaning we feed them just enough information to make them reckless. The more confident they feel, the sloppier they’ll get. And when they get sloppy, I’ll have the proof I need to take them down without giving them leverage against Hudson Corp.”The security chief slid a small folder toward him. “We’ve already set up a dummy account in Callie’s name. It’s secure, untraceable to us, but will look just authentic enough to catch their attention if t