ALAYNAFor the entire hour, as we wait for midnight, we drink, talk, and mostly listen to Casey sharing her experiences in university. She’s into the third year of her second undergraduate degree, which I find awesome. But our conversation jumps to an annoying cooking partner who pretty much made her do all the work. However, he was also an excellent condiment mixer. Whenever she speaks about him, I’m not sure if she hates or admires him.“Wait.” I laugh. “Did you say ‘him’?”She sips her drink. “Yes.”“Aha!” I snap my finger. “You like him!”“What?” she shrieks. “No, no, no, way! He’s lazy, and he’s rude, and he’s—”“Hot,” I add.“And hot...” Her mouth drops. “No. Alayna!”I burst out laughing. “I knew it! What’s his name?”“E-Eric.” Her face turns so red that she avoids my eyes. “But I don’t like him. I swear!”“We can hear you,” Oliver interjects. “The last time you had a boyfriend was two months ago, Casey. And you came running to me, crying your eyes out.”She puffs. “It’s a part
ALAYNAI open my eyes, but I see nothing. Oh my God!“Hmmph! Hmmph!” I struggle in horror, but the arms around me are so firm, I can’t let go. Shivers travel my whole body. I feel my blood pressure rising, and my heart is violently pounding.Cassius! Oliver! Casey! I scream inside.Am I being kidnapped? Is this how I am going to die? Is this man going to rape me?The thought instantly brings disgust all over my body.No, I can’t go through that hell again!I struggle more against him.“Hmmph! Hmmph!”Let me go! I cry inside, but the man tugs me to the deepest, darkest side of the room.Then my kidnapper suddenly releases me. The adrenaline slithers through me, and as I’m about to scream, the kidnapper spins me around and covers my mouth again.“Hmmph!”“Hey, hey, hey. Shh... It’s me,” he whispers, and he sounds too damn familiar. “It’s Brandon.” He takes his hood off and reveals his face.“Brandon?” I say, and my eyes seem to have adjusted. I can somewhat see his face now.“Hmm.” He n
ALAYNAAt first, I think I’m dreaming as if it were the first time Brandon kissed me. He feels so familiar—a lost lover I’ve yearned for. I give in to the kiss, letting him devour my mouth. He groans at my response. His kiss grows relentless and more demanding. And right when we can’t get enough of each other, wishing to feel more, he picks me up and brings me to his lap. His hands are all over my body, pulling me harder against him. We are panting between each other’s mouths, my nails slashing into his shirt as I try to pull him closer.I moan, and it doesn’t matter. At this moment, he is mine and mine alone. My fingers grip his back as his tongue plunges into my mouth aggressively, gaining much more access. Brandon has become fierce and confident. He used to be gentle with me, and I was always careful while touching him before. My hands are freely gripping his biceps, then his muscular chest, tangling in his hair. He is so passionate, and he knows exactly what I need.I can taste th
BRANDONI invite Cassius privately to the hotel’s executive suite. I had John, Oliver’s chauffeur, prepare a computer, and he is standing right next to it waiting for my arrival.“Master Lucien,” he says politely.“John. Are they ready?”“Yes, sir.”“John?” Cassius hesitates a little.“Good evening, Mr. Katrakis,” John says and turns on the computer.I pull the chair in front of the computer and invite Cassius to have a seat beside me. “Come, sit.”His eyebrow rises. “What’s going on?”“Just come.”He sighs deeply and takes the seat. “How is this supposed to find Oliver?” he asks again but doesn’t demand an answer as the video conference starts at last.“Good evening there, Brandon, Cassius.” My cousin Constantine’s cozy, accented voice reverberates from the speaker.Next to him is his twin brother, Carmelo. “You have not been careful again, Brandon,” he says, his tone accusing. “First Aunt Grethe and your sister Elga, Now, it’s Oliver. Who’s going to be their next target? How disgust
ALAYNA I knock at the door next to mine in the hotel the next morning, and Brandon answers it immediately. His expression softens when he sees me. The cut on his lip from Cassius’s assault last night is still swollen and red.“Alayna.”“I heard you stayed.”“Yes, would you like to come in?”Either way, I came here to talk to him. “Yes, please.”He steps aside and holds the door open. I move into his suite.His room is just as spacious as his room in the mansion, but it is sunny inside. I slump on the couch in front of the fireplace, leaving ample distance between us.I watch Brandon walk to the kitchen, pour coffee in two cups, and stroll back toward me. “I already asked for room service. Have this for now.” He hands me the cup.“Thanks.”“You’re welcome.” He sits at the other side of the couch and takes a sip of his coffee.“I thought you’d left,” I say.“I couldn’t.” He looks at me sincerely. “You’re here.”I smile a little and sip my coffee. The warmth calms my senses. “What happen
ALAYNAIt’s been more than twenty-four hours now since Oliver has gone missing. There’s still no sign of where we can find him or any news from his abductors. I feel genuine helplessness and anxiety because it was supposed to be me. I was supposed to be in his place. But instead, I’m here—staying in this luxurious suite with a nice bed and delicious hotel food while he’s out there. He probably hasn’t had anything to eat. I didn’t want to get kidnapped either. Who wants something like that? However, because of me... he’s...I shake my head. Blaming myself now won’t help us either.I go back to my room, thinking I should probably get myself prepared. Brandon said we’re leaving the hotel in a few minutes. I tap the keycard at my door and step inside. But to my astonishment, Cassius and Casey are inside.Cassius is on the couch, massaging his eyebrows while his elbows rest on his knees, and Casey is standing by the window, looking as restless as I am.“How did you guys get in here?” I ask
BRANDONPauline shows me the text message from an unknown number, but I believe it’s Silvanus’s doing. The message is very precise and simple: "Give us Pauline and you will have your cousin."That’s all. No locations. No further contact information.I curse under my breath, knowing they didn’t want to make this easy. They want to torture me for it.Pauline is shedding tears nonstop, and her hands are quivering. Casey is impassive, and her eyes contemptuous whenever she looks at Pauline.“I knew it!” Casey barks, walking back and forth in my living room. “Who else would want this woman but him? Why don’t we just give her to them?”“Casey, it isn’t that simple,” I answer. “And for God’s sake, can you please sit down for one second. My head hurts watching you walk around.”She finally stops and throws a glare at me. “How can I be calm? They didn’t even give you the information. Nothing. Nada. And there’s only one possible way to get Ollie back, and that is if you give her to Silvanus.”“N
ALAYNAI wake up the next morning with my head feeling slightly better. My room isn’t spinning anymore, but my body still feels shaky. I shift my head to the other side and find Brandon lying next to me. His eyes are shut and his face serene. My head is lying softly on his arm.Oh my!I cover my mouth in shock. How did we end up like this? Why is he in my bed? Did we sleep together?I touch my head, trying to remember if we did anything other than talk last night. I was picking up the glass, then he came to the kitchen. Damn. I probably passed out. I still have a fever; I can feel it, but my temperature is a bit lower. I let out a sigh of relief. Nothing happened. We only slept. But why did he stay here?I shake his shoulder and whisper. “Brandon? Brandon...”He groans, and his eyes open slowly. “Alayna.”“What are you doing here?” I ask, but I can’t seem to move my body. I may be shameless, but screw being shameless. I like being next to him. I didn’t ask him to sleep next to me eithe