ログインNate Sullivan POV-----The gas pump clicked off.Nate pulled the nozzle out and hung it back on the pump.His phone rang.Jane.He reached for it—“Hey!” A gas station attendant shouted from across the lot. “No phone calls near the pumps!”Nate looked at him, then at his phone.“Fuck off,” he muttered under his breath.He walked away from the bike, toward the edge of the lot, and answered.“What?”“Where are you?” Jane’s voice was sharp.“Gas station. Filling up.”“Nate—” She paused. “I’m worried.”Nate rolled his eyes. “You’re always worried.”“Because you’re a knucklehead who volunteered for something you shouldn’t have.”“I’m fine, Jane.”“It’s too dangerous going back there. You barely got away last time.”“That was different.”“How?”“I wasn’t prepared. This time I am.”Jane sighed on the other end. “You’re being reckless.”“I’m not,” Nate corrected. “Mia’s already texting me to come over. She has no idea. I’ve got this.”Silence.Then Jane’s voice, low and threatening. “You bet
“We should get to the bottom of who wrote those articles and sue them,” Scott said, his voice sharp. “It’s outrageous.”“Scott—” Paul’s voice came through the phone, measured and calm. “I understand you’re upset, but suing the press right now will not improve your reputation. If anything, it’ll make you look defensive.”“I am defensive,” Scott snapped. “They’re calling me a murderer.”“I know.” Paul paused. “But the hearing is in two days. You need to be in New York tomorrow. That’s what matters right now.”Scott exhaled sharply, his jaw tight.“I’ll be there.”“Good. We’ll go over everything when you arrive.”Scott hung up without another word.He dropped his phone on the desk and rubbed his face with both hands.Emily’s hand touched his back, warm and steady.She rubbed slow circles between his shoulder blades.“You okay?” she asked softly.Scott let out a humorless laugh. “No.”“You will be.”He turned to look at her. “You don’t have to be here, you know. You should be at work.”Em
Jane Sullivan POV-----“She threw me under the bus!” Nate yelled, slamming his fist on the table.Jane sighed and leaned back in her chair.Here we go.They were at Kevin’s Cuisine again. The private back room that was starting to feel less like a restaurant and more like a villain’s lair.How fitting.Susan barely looked up from her phone.“You were already caught coming out of Emily’s room. What did you expect me to do?”“You could’ve defended me!”“Defended you?” Susan’s voice was sharp. “You froze at the dinner table like a guilty child. I saved you.”Nate’s face reddened.Jane raised an eyebrow. “Is it true? You got caught?”Nate hesitated, then muttered, “Yeah.”“What were you doing in there?” Jane asked, though she already had a sinking feeling she knew.“Looking for more stuff,” Nate said quickly.Susan snorted. “Or you were collecting underwear again, you little freak.”Nate’s lips curved into a sinister smile.“Oh my God, ew.” Susan dropped her phone on the table. “That’s h
Emily woke to warmth.Scott’s arm was draped across her waist, his chest pressed against her back, his breath soft against her neck.For a moment, she just lay there, eyes closed, letting herself feel it.This.Whatever this was.She shifted slightly, and Scott stirred behind her.His hand moved, sliding up her stomach, slow and deliberate.Emily’s breath caught.“You awake?” His voice was rough with sleep, low and close to her ear.“Mm-hmm.”His lips brushed her shoulder. Then her neck.Emily turned in his arms, facing him.Their eyes met.Neither of them spoke.Scott’s hand moved to her face, his thumb tracing her jawline.Then he kissed her.Slow. Deep. Like he had all the time in the world.Emily’s fingers slid into his hair, pulling him closer.Scott rolled her onto her back, his body settling between her thighs.“I missed you,” he whispered against her mouth.Emily’s chest tightened.“I missed you too.”Scott’s hand moved down her body, exploring every curve.Emily arched into h
Scott’s head felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it. He dragged himself to the dining area, each step sending a fresh wave of pain through his skull. Dora appeared at his side with a steaming cup of coffee. “Breakfast will be served soon, Mr. Hunter,” she said gently, like she knew exactly how much noise his brain could tolerate. “Thanks, Dora.” Scott dropped into his chair and took a long sip. The coffee burned going down, but at least it was something real to focus on besides the throbbing behind his eyes. Mia and Nate walked in and sat across from him. Mia took one look at Scott and smirked. “Wow. You look like shit warmed over and left out in the sun.” Scott didn’t have the energy to respond. “Rough night?” she pressed, clearly enjoying herself. “Something like that.” “Strip club or casino?” “Both.” Mia laughed. “At least you’re honest.” The door opened again. Emily walked in. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second before both looked a
Amy Anderson POV ----- “Ian is an asshole, but he won’t kill his own grandmother for the inheritance, right?” Amy picked up a fresh apple from the kitchen basket and took a big bite. She leaned on the counter. “And then there’s the half-brother—the billionaire who has little to gain from this but is fighting tooth and nail for it.” Amy took another bite. “It just doesn’t make sense. He’s sketchy—but not in a murderous way.” “All billionaires are sketchy,” Gracie replied, then continued chopping carrots. “I know, right?” Amy giggled. “I think he’s kinda cute.” “Eww, Grandma. He might be a killer.” “If Hilda wanted you to do something, don’t you think she would’ve told me? Are you sure it wasn’t just pleasantries?” “Grandma, she said she needed professional investigative help. Then she died.” “Bless her soul.” Gracie dropped the knife and made the sign of the cross. “In my line of work, that’s what we call super suspicious.” “Read the letter again.” “Grandma—” “Read it,
Emily glanced at her phone.8:00 a.m.Too early to go to work. But she left anyway.She'd been avoiding Scott since the night he pinned her to the bed.She couldn't trust herself around him anymore.Staying for breakfast meant tension.Staying for dinner meant contact.Every look felt like losing c
“This is closer to a disaster than a save.” Scott said. “Definitely cutting it close.”People scurried across his mansion grounds. Flowers were arranged in clusters along the garden path. White balloons bobbed in the breeze as staff secured them to posts.Everyone rushed like contestants on a timed
Emily woke to her phone ringing. She picked up, half-yawning.“Good morning, Nadine.”“Top of the morning, ma’am! Just wanted to inform you that Everdale will be delivering eighty-five pieces today.”“What’s the deadline for Priya Printing?” Emily stood, stretching.“They said two days.”“Perfect.
“This isn’t your moment. Keep walking. I got her out.” Ian finally let go of Emily.“Emily?” Scott stretched his hand toward her.Emily walked to Scott and stood at his side.Ian closed the distance. He glared at Scott.“You think she cares about you? You’re wasting your time.”Scott pulled Emily c







