เข้าสู่ระบบCharliThe room feels too quiet.The champagne still lingers bitterly at the back of my throat, not enough to fog me, but enough to remind me I drank too quickly. I can feel it sitting there, sharp, while I sit on the edge of the bed.Elijah’s across the room, undoing his tie. He slips his watch off next, setting it neatly on the dresser. My eyes betray me, trailing down his chest as he unbuttons his shirt. Broad shoulders, fine-tuned muscles, tattoos that look carved into him instead of inked. My insides twist warm, traitorous.“How much did you have to drink?” His voice slices through my staring.“Huh?” I blink, heat rushing up my neck as I force my eyes back to his face.“Did you take any shots?” His tone is casual, but his eyes flick to my lips.I shake my head. “No.”His mouth quirks, almost disappointedly. “So I won’t have the pleasure of you trying to kiss me all on your own?”My breath stutters. He drops his shirt, then unbuttons his pants, sliding them off. And suddenly he’s
CharliThe dining room is something out of a dream.There’s a long polished table and chandeliers that drip crystals and bright yellow light.I pause at the entryway, unsure, while Elijah moves forward without hesitation, like the room belongs to him. With his hand in mine, I have no option but to follow himThere’s a couple near the head of the table. The man wears a dark suit, posture strong even though his arm is casually looped around a woman’s waist.She’s laughing at something he says, champagne flute in hand, until her gaze shifts and lands on us. Her mouth drops open.“Elijah,” the man says smoothly, stepping forward. “Good to see you.”They clasp hands, falling into an easy rhythm of conversation. I glance at Elijah, wishing he’d give me some kind of instruction on what to do, but he’s locked in the conversation.The woman turns fully toward me.She’s beautiful, but in a simple way that feels almost effortless. She’s wearing a denim jumpsuit, black heels and straight dark hai
CharliI blink out of my thoughts just in time to follow Elijah out of the elevator before the doors close.My bare feet sink into the soft carpet, even the floor is luxurious.The penthouse doors at the end of the hall are already open, two guards posted like statues. They nod the instant they see him, and Elijah tips his chin in acknowledgment before guiding us inside.The place is massive. White walls, sleek dark wood floors, glass everywhere. I take a breath, looking at the ocean from the floor-length windows.Tony is leaning against the kitchen counter like he owns the place, a sandwich in hand. He spots Elijah and salutes lazily with the other.“Hey, boss.” His words are muffled, crumbs spilling from his mouth.Elijah growls low in his chest. “Finish fucking chewing.”Tony blanches, cheeks bulging, and makes a strangled sound as he forces the bite down. He coughs once, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “The girls are in the room, setting things up.”Elijah nods once, a
CharliWe land almost five hours later, and then we’re in the car for another hour.I press my forehead against the glass, squinting at the property ahead. My mouth drops open as I see what waits for us.It looks like paradise.Sunlight bounces off a pool that shimmers like liquid gems. Palm trees sway, flowers bloom in impossible colors, and every building is painted in warm, creamy tones with wood and stone accents.It looks like a resort. I don’t even know what state we’re in, but this looks heavenly.There are armored cars parked outside, men in black suits and sunglasses standing around, speaking into earpieces.The place looks empty, as if it’s just for us.“Where… are we?” I whisper, barely audible.Elijah’s already stepping out, and he drops his hand for me to take it. I slide across the leather seats, taking his hand without a second thought. He tilts his head, watching the way his fingers wrap around my hand.Realization hits me, and I pull my hand from his hold, my bare fee
CharliI fold my arms tight across my chest as Elijah guides me up the narrow stairs into the jet. He’s behind me, hands wrapped firmly around my waist, pushing me forward.I don’t know where he’s taking me.I just heard him over the phone, talking about finishing someone off. The trial is over, and now he’s flying me out of here. Is this to get rid of me somewhere else? Or is it safer for him to have me in another state? Maybe that’s why he gave me the phone—to let me say goodbye to my sisters.I spin in his hands, trying to push past him and back down the stairs.“Charli.”“Where are you taking me?” I ask, breathy, avoiding his eyes.“Get on the plane.”“But why? I can just stay here. If you’re going to do something to me, you can do it here. If you need to kill me, I get it. I’m not naïve, but I didn’t get to say goodbye to my sisters. I didn’t—”“Wildflower.”He stops me, cupping my jaw with one hand, forcing my eyes to his. That warmth in his gray eyes burns straight through me.
CharliI fidget with the phone in my hands, tapping my fingers against the screen even though I’ve already stared at it for ten minutes.I hover over Ali’s name, then Jo’s. Then I shut off the screen and twirl it again.I spoke to them both earlier, but everything I said felt like a lie because I couldn’t answer Ali when she asked me what was the price Elijah had made me pay.I couldn’t tell them about the kiss, about how much I liked it. Hated it, loved it, whatever. I can’t even admit it to myself.The sound of the door clicking makes my chest jerk.I haven’t seen Elijah since the garden yesterday. He didn’t sleep in here last night, so just the sight of him makes my stomach flip.He’s dressed simple, a pair of dark pants, crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows. He moves so slowly, controlled and my pulse spikes.His gray eyes sweep over me, as if he can see right through my baby blue dress, and then he focuses on the way I hold on to the phone. That same hunger I saw in hi







