Novel-novel oleh Ray Michael

Lyra removed her shoes and pushed her chair backwards so she could rest well. They'd barely hit the highway when her even breath filled the car. She was asleep.Tyson just glanced over her and smiled. With his free hand, he pulled out his phone and called Dale.“Tasty delights,” Tyson started.“Huh?”“It's a restaurant. Contact the owner and send him ten grand, he treated us to dinner.”“On it.” Then Dale cleared his throat, voice adopting a teasing tone. “Did you have a good evening?”A small smile cracked on Tyson’s face, yet his tone was sharp. “Mind your business.”Dale's laughter echoed before the call ended. Tyson glanced at Lyra again as he drove. Her closed eyes looked so peaceful, drool slipping from her lips. The steady rising and falling of her chest made him want to place his face on her and listen to her breathing all night.Her head was about to slip off the headrest but he caught it, his free hand wedging her head for the entire drive.When they pulled up in the drive

“Lyra! You can drive my car if that's your problem!! Just—” The rest of his words cut off as he was removed from the premises.Lyra exhaled in relief. This manchild. He always seemed to miss the point. On purpose perhaps?She wanted to move. And that's when she realized her arm was still locked with Tyson's. Immediately, she pulled away and cleared her throat awkwardly. “Thanks for that. Let's get back to dinner, the food must be getting cold.”But Tyson didn't move. He just stared at her, the anger and hatred from earlier had simmered down but she could still see traces. Then he allowed a small smirk break on his lips. “Being with my nephew must’ve been hard.” “Uh, uhm, no. No, I didn't—That's not it.”Her eyes met his and heat crawled up her neck. Memories of her confrontation with Alex came flooding back—He’d heard her talk about Alex’s... ‘performance’. Heard her insinuate that she’d slept with Tyson. Oh goodness… she facepalmed mentally. How would she explain herself out of t

The audacity of him to come here, acting like a saint and trying to slut-shame her. Lyra bit down hard, her fists clenching beside her. “You're very stupid.” Alex was momentarily taken aback by the anger in her eyes, but he pressed on. “Why Uncle Tyson? Is this to spite me? Make me jealous? Well congratulations, it worked.” “You must think the earth revolves around you.” “I understand you're angry, and rightfully so. But you didn't have to go to these lengths—” She didn't have to go to these lengths? Lyra looked him up and down, lost for words. As though the switch in her brain had been turned off. She had the overwhelming urge to strangle him, so she just grabbed her purse and made her way out. “I got the memo already,” Alex said, blocking her path. He grabbed her hand. “Showtime’s over, let's go.” Lyra slapped his hand away, chest heaving, blood boiling with rage. “Do you have memory loss?” “What?” “Did you forget everything you've done to me?” At least now he ha

Earlier that day, Lyra was in a meeting with her team about the upcoming summit. “I think we should do a sensitivity analysis first,” Heather suggested.Miller eyed her. Without even sparing him a glance, Heather shrugged him off.Lyra smiled at Heather, actually impressed by her proactive nature. “Okay, Heather, that's actually a brilliant suggestion.”Then she faced Miller whose eyes were still on Heather's side profile. “Miller, anything you'd like to add?”Miller just huffed lightly, shifting his focus to Lyra. “Nothing Miss Know-It-All hasn't already said.”Ethan chuckled quietly. And Lyra was just about to caution Miller on his tone when her phone rang.It was an unknown number. Growing up, she'd never been against picking calls from unfamiliar numbers. Maybe because her mind always worked overtime— ‘what if a loved one was stranded and needed to reach her with a stranger’s phone?’But since Alex had called a couple of times with unknown numbers, she had a reevaluation.Somet

Nadine arrived much later—almost noon, as always.Alex had even used his assistant's phone to try Lyra's number but she didn't pick up. Maybe she was busy. Or maybe she was yet to drop her hard-to-get act.Alex's stomach clenched with unease. He stood and paced the length of his office. She was just being extra—she'd already proved her point.After a moment, he walked out the office with no destination in mind. ‘Good day, Mrs. Wilson.’ floated as he moved. He just waved his hands absentmindedly, not bothering to pay attention to any of them.As he rounded a corner and approached Nadine’s office, he heard voices. “It doesn't match with the data we have,” a female voice said.Another sharp voice cut in. “Then rerun it.” He knew that was Nadine.But Lydia, the young intern in Nadine's team complained. Frustration was etched in her voice. “We've run it ten times already, the curve still doesn't match—”“Then keep going till you find a solution.” Nadine's tone was dismissing and final.

Alex stared blankly at Nadine’s breasts bouncing above. Her moans were drowned in the ocean of his thoughts as she rode him to oblivion. He wasn't here. He was still stuck in Dicey Heart Casino, reliving his meeting with Tyson, over and over again.*I'm going to unravel her… one thread at a time.*Unravel? His nails instinctively dug into Nadine's waist, where his unfeeling hands were resting. What did he mean?Nadine groaned at his action and kept bouncing harder, breathless, sweat trickling. Her rhythm was desperate as she neared her climax.*I'm not letting her go.*A muscle in Alex's jaw pulsed. “Fuck, I'm close,” Nadine breathed. He should enjoy this. Hell, he should focus on this. His shaft was buried deep inside the woman that he loved.Instead… Her sinking and pushing movement, her horny voice that kept interrupting his every thought, irked him. She let out another loud moan and Alex felt the urge to just bite his tongue and die.But his thoughts were louder.*One way or t

**Third person** Valerie dragged her heavy eyes open. She blinked a couple of times to clear her vision. The smell of drugs and antiseptic and hospital filled her nose. Beside her, Lucas sat with his eyes closed. Almost immediately she jumped up on the bed. “Let me go,” she shouted, startling Lucas. He climbed the bed and pulled her into his arms. “It's okay, you're safe now,” he whispered softly, planting kiss after kiss on her hair and forehead. Valerie relaxed into his embrace, her racing heart finally calm. A tear slipped from his eyes and he wiped it. He'd thought he'd lost her. “I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe. I should have anticipated it, I should—” “It's not your fault,” she cut him off gently. “It's not.” Tears trailed down her own cheeks and she sniffed. “What happened to Matthew?” A muscle ticked in Lucas's jaw, he felt Matt had an easy fate after everything he did. "Dead." Valerie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, her body shaking with relieve

**Third person**“Let's move, slowly,” Matt murmured in Valerie's ears, his hot breath fanning against her skin. His eyes were still locked onto Lucas—who was practically shooting daggers at Matt with his eyes."Matthew, please," Valerie whispered back, her voice trembling. "You don't have to do this. You can still let me go."Matt's jaw tightened, his chest heaving with desperation and anger. "Do you really think I'm stupid?" he hissed. "You want me to let you go? I should just allow you to run into his arms?" He questioned in a mocking tone.“Drop your weapon and surrender,” the police announced again but neither Valerie nor Matt paid any attention. “Best believe that if I do that, then I'll shoot you from behind before you get to him,” Matt added. The chilling sensation in his voice sent a shiver down Valerie's spine.“Man to man,” Lucas began, his voice almost a growl. “What would it take for you to let her go? Anything at all… name it. Even if you don't want to spend a single da

**Third person**It took Matthew half the time it would normally take to get to the bunker. He parked his car at a safe distance before running over to the location. And with each step he took, his mind raced, his heart pounded with anxiety. He couldn't afford to lose her now that he was so close. They'd literally be leaving the country today. Valerie please be there, please be there, Matt murmured, his legs moving faster.A half-relieved sigh left his lips when he reached the entrance and saw that the door was still locked—She was still here. His trembling fingers sifted through his bunch of keys, his breath gaspy and he wiped the sweat on his forehead with the back of his palm.Matt unlocked the door and then pushed it open forcefully. His eyes blazing with anger and anxiety found Valerie immediately. She was curled up at a corner, her cheeks stained with tears and her hands and feet shaking."What have you done??!" he growled, his voice venomous.She frowned in confusion, even th

**Third person**Matt seemed to ponder for a moment before he exhaled deeply. Then he moved over to the table and picked up a small knife. He began cutting the ropes. His jaw clenched at the red mark the ropes left on her skin, a pang of guilt coursing through him. He'd done this to her, he thought. “Do you need me to get you anything from the store?”Finally untied, Valerie examined her free hands and legs, a sense of relief and determination washing over her. “No, thanks.”“I'll be back soon.” He gave her a warning look. “Don't try anything stupid.”She nodded vigorously. “I wouldn't dare.”Satisfied, Matthew turned around and headed out. Valerie had her timid and innocent mask on, until the moment Matthew was out of view.She squeezed her eyes shut and then began counting from one to fifty in her head, giving Matthew enough time to leave the premises. Even with her eyes closed, she could hear the locks click behind him.When she was done, she sprang to her feet, her eyes desperat

**Third person**Eighteen hours had passed since Valerie's disappearance.Lucas stood in the center of his living room, surrounded by computers and anxious faces. His team of experts, handpicked from the best in the business, worked tirelessly to track down any lead on his woman.But so far, neither his team nor the police have been able to come up with anything tangible. There was also no signal from the tracker in Valerie's necklace. Either her kidnapper knew that the necklace was bugged and got rid of it, or they were under water, in a bunker, or somewhere that'll block the signal.One thing for sure; he'd find Valerie and he'd find her soon. Even if it meant turning the planet upside down. She'd be found.News about her and disappearance was all over the media and there was a huge cash prize for whoever brought relevant information on her whereabouts. Lucas ran a palm across his exhausted face. Deep lines creased his forehead, and his jaw was set in a rigid clench. "Broaden the

**Third person** It was almost as if Valerie disappeared just when Elliot blinked. After dismissing the woman who'd come to talk to him, he looked up but he didn't find his boss. Damnit! He'd clenched his jaw and quickened his pace, his hand instinctively resting on the gun holstered at his hip as he rushed outside. Eyes scanned everywhere around but there was no trace of her. "Miss Thorne?" he called out, his mind racing. “Ashley?” He called louder. “Valerie?” There was no response. Immediately, he dialed her number… once, twice, thrice… until it was unreachable. He'd rushed over to some passersby to ask if they'd seen her… There was nothing. Shit! Just then, his phone started ringing. Elliot pulled the device out and stared at the screen, his throat suddenly feeling dry as he registered the caller ID—Mr. Stone. He took a deep breath and then pressed the answer button. ***************************** Valerie's eyes fluttered open, her gaze was blurry and unfocused. She tri