LOGINWhen they got to the bedroom, Hayden reached for Myla’s hand, pulling her to him until she was standing between his knees. The wheelchair remained locked, unmoving, his presence a heavy, grounding force. He looked at Beck and Jared, his voice thick with authority.
“Though Myla is ready,” Hayden said, looking up into her eyes. “Tonight I want you to watch her come apart the way I'm sure you've been dreaming of.” He looked at Jared and Beck, smirking devilishly. "...and if I'm feelingDownstairs in his office, Jared sat reclined in his chair, listening to the news anchor drone on the television screen. The broadcast showed the stock values of Oakley Corps dropping rapidly, alongside images of their J&B security headquarters.“...Oakley Corp stock has continued to decline throughout the day, with several major investors announcing they are actively reviewing their partnerships...” the reporter announced. "... at the same time, clients are reportedly suspending contracts with J&B Security pending further developments on the Operation Nightfall leak...”His jaw clenched tightly as he changed the channel, and the voice of the main anchor cut through the quiet room.“...the silence from both the Department of Defence and even Jared Lotto himself has become increasingly noticeable as the hours progress...” the TV droned on. “... so far, there has been no official denial, confirmation, or counterstatement regarding the severe war crime allegations...”Jared’s eyes narrowe
The instant Myla’s eyes landed on Jared walking in behind Beck, relief washed over her face so quickly that it almost hurt to witness.“Oh, baby,” she breathed out, her voice soft and slightly trembling. “I thought you had left.”Jared quickly shook his head, a smooth, reassuring smile curving on his lips as he quickly walked to her. “Of course not, baby,” he said, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I didn’t leave,” he continued, the lie rolling off his tongue smoothly. “I just went downstairs to the garage to check on some details with Steve.”Myla let out a long, exhausted breath, her posture relaxing completely against the pillow as her face brightened up significantly. “Oh, ok. That is good.”Beck quietly released the breath he had been holding. Crisis averted… for now. Her fingers reached out from beneath the covers, wrapping tightly around his large, calloused hand. “It was shocking to look up and not see you when I was expecting to. I didn’t like it, Jay.”
“Why the fuck would he do this now?” Beck thought to himself, his heart slammed hard against his ribs.Before Myla, Jared had always been the solid anchor of their chaotic group.Hayden was brilliant. There wasn’t a business problem on earth that man couldn’t solve. But his pride could blind him, and when he dug his heels in, it took a heculean effort to move him.Beck knew he was the smartest academically. His mind raced through problems faster than most people could keep up, but it also meant emotions hit him like freight trains. He felt everything too much.Jared was the one who knew exactly when Hayden needed to be challenged and exactly when Beck needed to be pulled back before his emotions consumed him.Beck broke into a run, heading to the nurses’ station. “Have you seen the tall guy that came with the Oakleys?” He panted, nearly skidding across the polished floor as he stopped. “Military haircut, low beard?”One nurse looked up immediately. “The handso… Sorry, I meant the gent
At the awkward silence in the room, the nurse looked around the room, finally processing the cold, stunned, and angry expressions on the faces of the three men, and her bright smile vanished instantly. Her cheeks flushed a deep, bright crimson as she went entirely sheepish, realizing her massive mistake.“Oh,” she whispered, her face flushing bright crimson as she realized her massive mistake. “You didn’t know…”Her hands shook slightly as she sheepishly dropped the flowers on the bedside table. “I am so incredibly sorry. I am so sorry.” She sheepishly pleaded as she backed towards the door. “I truly thought you had already told her the news. Please don’t have me fired.”Then quickly slipped out into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind her with a soft click. The sound of her horrified sobs echoing as she rushed away.Hayden let out a long, heavy sigh, rubbing his temple with his fingers before turning his head back to face his wife. Myla was staring at him, her face turning co
“Why do you guys look like you’ve just seen a ghost?” Myla asked as they walked into her hospital room, giggling at their pale faces. “Lighten up. It was just a little fainting spell.”She was lying in the center of the adjustable bed. The harsh white sheets were pulled up to her chest, making her look small against the sterile background. Her skin was still a little bit pale, but the color was slowly returning to her cheeks. She looked much better than she had on the dark concrete tarmac of the hangar.A small, weary smile touched her lips when her men kept looking at her as if she'd shatter if any of them even spoke. “Come on, the way you guys are hovering by the door is beginning to freak me out. Seriously, I’m fine.”The relief in the room was almost thick enough to touch. Hayden and Beck rushed straight to the bedside and leaned over her, their faces drawn with deep lines of worry as their hands immediately began checking over her body. Hayden took her left hand, feeling the ste
“…and in another breaking news tonight, chaos erupted at a private hangar, which led to a victim being rushed to the ER after a stampede…”Hayden let out a slow breath, staring at the TV mounted in the waiting room. “I’m beginning to really hate galas,” he muttered, his voice rough and strained. “...and everything relating to them.”“It’s like they’re cursed for us now,” Beck added, chuckling bitterly. “Something shitty must happen after or during one.”Three pairs of eyes fixed on the screen, watching Clara, continue reporting the news.“The newly crowned woman of the year, Myla Oakley, reportedly collapsed after what witnesses described as a dangerous crowd surge involving reporters and civilians attempting to reach the couple’s helicopter.”Then, blurry footage of their security team fighting through a sea of people flashed across the screen.“We would first like to congratulate Mrs. Oakley on her well-deserved award,” Clara said sincerely. “Tonight should have been a celebration o







