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CHAPTER SEVEN: The Boy at the Door

Author: Norah Black
last update Last Updated: 2025-06-14 01:50:46

The smoke curled around her feet, stinging her eyes and burning her lungs.

She ran barefoot to the red door and flung it open. Flames burst through, licking her wrist.

She had to save them. Her brother's scream echoed through her lungs.

Adele turned and ran to her brother’s room. She grabbed the handle—and slipped. Her legs wouldn’t move fast enough. Her chest was tight. Burning.

I can’t let them die again.

Her brain screamed it.

She heard her father’s voice—warped and distant.

She opened her mouth to scream but choked. The smell of burning flesh filled her throat.

You’re too late again. This is all on you.

That cruel, taunting voice inside her head.

Adele woke up coughing.

The smoke was still there. But it wasn’t from the fire.

It was coming from the kitchen.

She threw the sheets off. Tripped on her dress.

“Shit—”

She wrestled it off, grabbed a loose blue shirt, shoved it over her head, and ran out of the room—heart racing, throat raw.

Julian was pacing in the kitchen, phone pressed
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Comments (3)
goodnovel comment avatar
Samkhalil
Coulda sworn the same thing happened to me some time this week. The rush to check out where the smoke’s coming from and tripping in the process…Oh my...
goodnovel comment avatar
Norah Black
Adele just met the boy at the door. But is she ready for what comes next? Chapter 8 will break you. Add to library to stay in the storm.
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Aries Ink
Leo is a cute kiddo.
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  • A Deal With Desire   CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN: Deadlier Than Desire

    CELESTE'S POV The cell is cold. Not just physically, but spiritually, too. I sit on the hard bench, arms crossed over my chest, trying to keep myself from unraveling.Outside, my lawyer is working on bail, but inside? Inside is survival.Julian sure pulled a fast one on me. And Alex is MIA, making me the fall guy. Classic.I have to find a way out of this. Julian can't keep me locked up here forever. I'm the mother of his son. He won't do that to me.The putrid smell of urine and sweaty armpits gags me. I shift uncomfortably, aware of the beady pair of eyes on my back. Movement. Footsteps. I steel myself as the huge woman lowers herself in front of me. My eyes meet hers.She smiles with all her brown teeth.“Hi honey. You don't look like you belong here.” Yeah, no shit.I say nothing, wishing she'll just go away.She stays. “What's your name, cupcake?”I don't respond. That pisses her off.“You think you're better than me, with your fancy clothes?” Of course I'm better than her

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  • A Deal With Desire   CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR: Whiskey, War Plans, and a Kiss.

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  • A Deal With Desire   CHAPTER THIRTY THREE: The Hawthorne Scam

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  • A Deal With Desire   CHAPTER THIRTY TWO: Dead Women Don't Speak

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