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64|Off The Rails
Last Updated:
2025-01-21 01:05:04
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Reckless Hearts 65|Blindsided
"No," Holly whispered, gasping for air as the walls of her chest moved closer, squeezing her lungs. "He wouldn't do that." "He did, and right in front of Sabrina," Cooper said in a hauntingly calm voice. "I didn't realise you have a thing for psychopaths." "What the hell is he saying? He's not making any sense!" Liam said, glancing at Holly, annoyance and confusion flitting on his face. "Yeah, what does Andrei have to do with this?" Willow chimed in. "I'm so confused!" "For God's sake, Holly, tell me you are not involved with Andrei!" Liam said softly, disappointment and anger burning in his eyes. "Oh, they are involved, alright. He was with her at The Castle the other night, threw his weight around like some hotshot," Cooper added fuel to the fire, fanning the flames of Liam's rage. "Is it true?" He demanded, turning all his anger on her. "Were you with Andrei a few nights back?" "I was," Holly admitted, nodding her head. "But it's not like that. He agreed to sell the penthouse
Last Updated : 2025-01-21Reckless Hearts 66|Wounded Her
After their call earlier, Andrei didn't expect to hear from Holly again, but when Helga ran upstairs and crashed his meeting with his lieutenants, excitedly announcing Holly's arrival, he left his study faster than the Flash, eager to see her. So her cold reception—no, her rage simmering just below the surface—was the last thing he'd hoped for. "You are upset," he said, unsure if he should approach her. Holly followed his lead, staying put on her end of the room, her hands curled into fists, shaking at her sides. It was clear as day she was trying her damnedest to hold her anger in, and he wanted so much to take her in his arms, if only just to make her feel better. But her sharp intake of breath, followed by a fierce look, told him to stay the hell away from her. "What exactly do you think of me?" Holly asked just when Andrei began to think they'd spend the entire night staring at each other. "What do you mean?" "Do I look like some damsel in distress to you?" "Of course not, b
Last Updated : 2025-01-21Reckless Hearts 67|Little Osaka
Little Osaka, the brothel where Nathan Gopal died in a hail of bullets a few months earlier following the fallout with Jaco and the De Jagers, was a fortress when Andrei and his lieutenants arrived just after 11:00 PM. Several highly skilled security teams, trained in crowd control and threat management, were stationed at all entry points, armed to the teeth and ready to handle any ambush, big or small. A year ago, Andrei would have thought it was overkill. But after Willem unleashed hell on Rock Castle and sent his henchmen to slaughter Nathan and several escorts like pigs, he understood Lev's overly cautious approach. They could not afford a repeat of the chaos, especially when they were hosting a prominent member of the Mexican cartel. Ivan killed the engine and switched off the headlights, but they stayed put and scoped out the place from the safety of their seats, waiting for Lev's all-clear. Despite the infamous massacre, now known as the 'ambush of Little Osaka' in the under
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 68|The Long Game
"You get it now," Andrei said with a slow smile, glad they were finally on the same page. "He wants to double-cross me," the Mexican mused, coiling his thin ponytail around two of his fingers. "It appears so." "That bloody ingrate! That bloody, fucking weasel! Nobody steals my product! Nobody!" Juan raged, and it was precisely the reaction Andrei had hoped for. While the embers of Juan's rage were still blazing hot, Andrei seized his chance, but was careful to play it cool. He didn't want to appear too eager or too desperate. Both were deadly for any business deal. Nothing turned people off faster than eagerness or desperation. It was a lesson he'd learned early in life. So, with just the right amount of authority and humility, he pushed Juan in the right direction, "Look, Mikhail is family. But as someone who values loyalty and doesn't tolerate betrayal from anyone, I understand how bad this looks, and I want you to know I support whatever action you wish to take." Juan needed
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 69|More Valuable As An Ally
Could it be? Could the two men be related? Could this be Jaco's return to The Corporation and the start of his long-anticipated revenge? And could Anton be just a chess piece in whatever deadly game Jaco was playing? "No fucking way," Andrei whispered as he pushed the contract away and reached for his laptop, getting down to some serious internet sleuthing as soon as it blinked to life. There were several photos of Anton from LinkedIn and other social network sites for professionals. A quick scan through his online résumé confirmed everything he'd told Andrei at their meeting—from his educational background to the founding of Nexus. Andrei breathed a sigh of relief he didn't really believe in when a search through his connections revealed no apparent link to Jaco. But, he thought as he sat up and stared at the screen. Just because he couldn't find an obvious link between the two men didn't mean he wasn't right. In fact, the longer he sat there, going over the timing of the mee
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 70|Played A Stupid Game
Holly stuck to her guns and was at the Institute first thing Monday morning to hand in her resignation letter. Hoping to avoid another ugly confrontation, she planned to leave it on Katherine's desk, collect her stuff from her locker, and sneak out without detection. But, she had a rude awakening when she found the campus already bustling with student apprentices and the Corps as they went about their morning. It seemed she wasn't the only one with a good work ethic. Her disappointment shot up when she reached Katherine's office. Even though it was just before 6:00 AM and too damn early for anyone to be productive, her soon-to-be former boss was already hard at work, furiously typing away. The dark circles around Katherine's eyes, her constant yawning, and the coffee mug beside her laptop were very telling. Her insomnia was back, and Holly couldn't help but smile with glee as she knocked on the ajar door, glad to see that her ugly sins were keeping her awake at night. Katherine l
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 7I| What The Devil Stole
"Please, let's talk about this," Katherine pleaded, stopping short of selling her soul to Holly. "You are a valuable asset to the team. The Institute needs you. You'll make an amazing teacher. After your surgery, I'll speak to the board and fast-track your promotion—" "Promotion?" Holly snickered, rolling her eyes. Joining the teaching staff was hardly a promotion. If anything, for someone with unparalleled talent like her, it was a demotion. "We both know that's not a promotion!" She clucked her tongue in contempt, wondering if Katherine had always seen her as nothing more than an idiot who could easily be manipulated with just a few empty promises. Deciding it didn't matter anyway since she'd resigned, Holly tried to leave again. But Katherine held on to her arm and switched gears as she ramped up her manipulation tactics, promising to find her the best dance instructor to help her return to the stage. "I know how much being a prima means to you. I'm sure your condition can be fix
Last Updated : 2025-02-04Reckless Hearts 72|A Magician Never Reveals Her Tricks
A pale-faced Lola stormed off with her groupies. One or two were brave enough to ask what Holly had said to leave her so shaken. "It's nothing," Holly heard her say just before she slipped inside the security office, where she spent an unbelievably long time going through the off-boarding process. When Carlo, one of the security guys assisting her, confirmed she was off the system, Holly excused herself, racing to the Porsche Cayenne Coupé parked in front of the entrance. For a minute or maybe more, she just stood there, soaking in the weight of her decision and unable to believe her journey as a dancer was truly over. "How does it feel to be a free agent?" Eric asked when she took her place in the back moments later. "Exhilarating! I never thought unemployment would feel so great!" Holly replied, amazed at how much she liked the idea of being a free agent. "I guess congratulations are in order then!" Eric teased, smiling at her as they pulled away. Holly gazed out the rear w
Last Updated : 2025-02-04
Latest chapter
Reckless Hearts 121|Like A Damn Addict
"You really can't help yourself, can you?" Liam's deep and quiet voice rang clearly through the room, the weight of his words clashing with the ever-rising tension. "You're like a damn addict. You just can't help yourself!"Holly opened her mouth to speak, to explain, to save Andrei more than herself, and to shield him from Liam's imminent wrath. But her tongue seemed to have grown twice its size, rendering her mute.Locked in some kind of trance, or something equally weird, like sleep paralysis, unable to speak or move, Holly could see everything so clearly—from the erect, almost defensive way Andrei held himself to Liam's rage bubbling just beneath the surface to Eden opening up her arms to her son and burying his face in her chest like she didn't want him to see all the ugliness about to unfold. Holly took in all these little things, but like a ghost trapped in the physical plane or an astral visitor stuck in someone else's dream, she couldn't interact with the objects around her
Reckless Hearts 120|Love Was Meant For Other People
If anyone had asked Andrei how he felt at that moment, with Holly in his arms and his mom's ring on her finger, he would have told them he was elated. But honestly, that, too, didn't even come close to the delirious joy brimming in his heart. In fact, he was so ecstatic he wondered how it wasn't a crime for anyone to be as happy as he was. "You've made me so happy, Milaya," he whispered, kissing Holly's forehead. All his life, he had always believed love was meant for other people—good, deserving people like Liam and Levi. And until a few weeks ago, marriage was the furthest thing from his mind. But now, with just a simple 'yes' to his proposal, Holly had opened the door to a world of possibility. "You have no idea how happy I am right now," he murmured in her hair. "I could die this moment, and I'll be okay with it—" Holly playfully slapped his arm, chastising him, "Hey, don't joke about dying, especially after today." "It was just a figure of speech," Andrei laughed, pushing he
Reckless Hearts 119|Endure
Eventually, Holly got over her shock and spluttered out her confusion, her eyes roaming wildly over Andrei's face in search of answers. "But Naomi said it's from Mexico!" "Naomi's right. That vial is from Mexico. There are only ninety-nine others in the country. Or at least there were." "What do you mean?" "Like I said, Jonah or whoever he's working for stole the drugs from me, and I can't let this shit slide," Andrei replied and swiftly changed the subject, asking her how long the doctors planned to keep her at the hospital, even though she'd already told him it was only for tonight. "I should be discharged tomorrow." "I'll pick you up," he offered, but Holly shot him down, reminding him there were four men outside her door, watching her every move under the guise of keeping her safe. If it hadn't been for her phone call to Eric, he wouldn't have been allowed to see her. "So what are you saying?" Andrei asked as he touched the ring in his pocket for assurance, hoping his gut fe
Reckless Hearts 118|Glimpses Of Herself
With seven minutes to go, Andrei charmed the nurses into letting him see Holly early, sweet-talking his way to her private ward. His luck ran out, though, when he found four of Liam's guys, including Eric, standing guard outside her door. "You shouldn't be here," said Eric as he got up in Andrei's face. "Ms Anderson almost died because of you." Ignoring him, Andrei pulled out his phone and called Holly. "Milaya," he said when she picked up. "Where are you? You sound so close." "I'm outside your room, but your guard dogs won't let me in." "Let me talk to them," she said and hung up. A moment later, Eric's phone rang. He picked up Holly's call and let Andrei through without saying a word. Holly's face lit up like the night sky on New Year's Eve when he stepped inside. She shoved her bed covers aside and sprung to her feet. But the pain in her knee sent her crashing back on the bed, and she howled in agony. Andrei was at her side in a heartbeat, asking as he cradled her in his a
Reckless Hearts 117|The Real Deal
Andrei was in Forrest Creek just as the sun dipped in the horizon, catching Helga as she was about to knock off. "Your dinner's in the microwave," she told him as she gathered her stuff. "And don't forget I'm not in for the rest of the week. My daughter—" "Thanks, Helga." Andrei smiled at her and saw her off, telling her to enjoy her break with her new grandkid. With just under an hour before visiting hours, Andrei dashed upstairs to freshen up, scoffing down his dinner while getting dressed. When he was done, he called Monique to confirm the chopper was ready to pick up his twin from Poolsmoor prison bright and early tomorrow. "I thought prisons had strict rules about this sort of thing," said Monique, sounding as exhausted as Andrei felt. "And I thought I paid you enough to know when something is not your business, Monique!" Andrei retorted and promptly hung up on her. She was right, though. Prisons had strict protocols in place when it came to prisoner transfers. But Andrei fig
Reckless Hearts 116|Fought A Thousand Battles
"What's this about now, Papa?" Andrei asked. "Sit!" Nikolai pointed at the armchair while he made himself comfortable behind his desk. "I'll get Pavel to bring in some refreshments. And since you're here, maybe you can stay for supper?" "No thanks," Andrei declined the seat, drink and meal, explaining he had to take Ivan to the airport. "Where's he flying to?" asked Nikolai, resting his hands on the surface of his desk. "Botswana," Andrei replied, but didn't offer any other information, and he was glad when his father didn't press for details. "Your brother's transfer is happening tomorrow?" Nikolai's statement sounded more like an accusation than a question, and Andrei wasn't sure how to respond. Nikolai took the decision out of his hands when he went on the offensive, accusing Andrei of keeping him in the dark. "Why did I have to hear from your assistant that your twin is coming home?" "Maybe if you had answered Leks' calls, you wouldn't have had to hear it from Monique. Le
Reckless Hearts 115|Shone as brightly
"Give me five minutes," Andrei said when they pulled into the horseshoe driveway and parked close to the front door a little while later. "You'd better hurry up. I have a flight to catch," Ivan retorted, reminding him about his trip to Botswana. The team of four guys he'd assembled to bring Sienna in were already on their way to the airport. "Yes, sir!" Andrei called over his shoulder, giving his lieutenant a mock salute as he ran up the front steps. The housekeeping staff were taken aback when he stepped into the lavish foyer and found them polishing the bannisters of the grand double staircase. "Mr Ivanov, we weren't expecting you." "I know!" Andrei replied. He never made unplanned stops. And if it weren't for his father's insistence to have a home-cooked meal with him at least once a week, he wouldn't even bother coming by. The place had stopped feeling like a home long before his mom died. "What can we do for you, sir?" The two ladies asked, ready to be of service, as they
Reckless Hearts 114|Like A Pendulum
"First time?" asked Thabo, Lev's mortuary technician friend. His brilliantly white teeth, as he smiled at Andrei, were a stark contrast to his smooth mahogany skin. "Hardly," Andrei replied and quickly shut his mouth, afraid if he didn't, the unbearably warm stench would creep into him and taint every inch of his soul. They passed several closed doors as Thabo led them down an endless corridor. He candidly explained that the air-conditioning system was out of order, hence the humidity and smell. "We logged it two days ago, but they have yet to send the technicians to fix it. I guess no one cares about the material comforts of the dead," he said, taking them deeper into the bowels of the morgue. Just when Andrei began to think the man had no idea where they were going, Thabo abruptly stopped in front of a cavernous room whose metal doors were wide open, like a gaping mouth. "There they are," he said, pointing at several bodies lying on cadaver carriers. "Why are they out in the o
Reckless Hearts 113|Seen And Smelled Death
"I was surprised you went with orchids," said Diane, the beaded strands tinkling softly as she pushed the curtain back in place and returned to her workstation."Aesthetically wise, I would have gone with roses," she added, setting the potted plant on the table. "Anything but roses!" Andrei murmured, running his fingers on the tips of pink tulips peeking out from an elaborate arrangement on the counter beside the cash register."But I like the symbolism behind orchids," she continued, as if Andrei hadn't spoken. Her hands moved deftly as she got down to work and performed magic with the Spanish moss, curly willow vines and some clippers. "Did you know that orchids were associated with virility in ancient Greece? In fact, Greek women believed that if the father of their unborn child consumed large, new orchid tubers, the baby would be a boy. If the mother ate small orchid tubers, she would give birth to a girl."Andrei didn't know this, of course. He'd chosen orchids for their enduran
