ANMELDENMIYARAHis taillights vanished around the corner, the lights fading in the distance. My battery flashed 3 percent and the Uber ride I’d just ordered canceled on me. I clutched my phone tighter as I paced the sidewalk. Should I call Jace? Not a good idea. But what choice did I have?My fingers hovered over the screen when headlights approached, the lights almost blinding me. A black Porsche stopped beside me and rolled the window down. “Get in before I change my mind.”“No. Just go as you did earlier.”I stomped forward, arms wrapped around myself, not sparing him a glance. I had almost forgotten how terribly I reacted to the cold. My fingers were so numb I thought they had frozen, and my nose had started to run, but there was no way in hell I was climbing into that car. He followed me on the side, blaring the horn at me. Once. Twice.“Leave me alone,” I snapped, my voice rising. “I really want to. But I don't want to be accused of murder. Get in and stop being stubborn.”“No,” I r
MIYARAThe doorknob turned again but thankfully the door was locked. I drew in a sharp inhale as Caden pressed closer to me. Claire was still at the door. I could hear her footsteps.“You guys okay in there?” She called again, probably knowing her son had followed me inside.My heart stuttered. “Tell her we’re fine.” His voice brushed my ear, sending tingles down my spine. I swallowed and subtly cleared my throat. “I’m fine… I mean we’re okay. I'm taking some meds before I lie down.”The turning of the doorknob stopped, then I heard an okay and footsteps descending the stairs.Relief flooded over me. That was a close one.“You seem to have gotten better at lying,” he said into my ear as I twisted and turned to get out of the cage he had me in between his body and the wall. “Being sorry doesn't erase the past Miyara. The scars will always be there no matter how many times you apologize.”A humorless laugh left his lips. “You think you’re perfect? The perfect daughter? Wait until you
CADENI saw it. Again. For the fucking second time I saw Miyara and the fucker kiss and something inside of me snapped. I had warned her to stay the fuck away from him but as expected, she stood there and let him kiss her. Even if it was for the briefest of seconds.I bumped my gloved fists together as I circled Mark in the mini ring in my Penthouse. Boxing was the only way I knew how to release tension and having a human punching bag was not a bad idea. Mark, my assistant and the closest thing I had to a friend, raised his own boxing gloves as I threw a punch directed at his face. There was no boss-employee relationship in this ring—just punches and blood.“Come on boss, is that all you’ve got?” He taunted, and it almost got to me as I landed a punch on his stomach.“I told you to stop fucking calling me that.” My hand shot out again, but he was quick to dodge, throwing a hard punch at my jaw. My head snapped to the side as copper filled my mouth.I wiped the blood off my lips wit
MIYARAI swallowed, then turned around. He had walked closer, helmet under his arm.“Someone spiked my drink,” I muttered under my breath, hoping he’d hear me. His eyes lingered on my face, gaze holding me in place. “Yeah, I figured. You started acting strange twenty minutes after taking it.”His expression changed instantly. “Don’t worry, she won’t be trying it again.I rubbed the back of my neck, my face feeling like it was on fire. Suddenly, the designs on the pavement seemed very interesting.“It was a mistake,” I said quickly.“A mistake huh?”The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.“Still a pretty good one.”I looked up and instantly regretted it. That look on his face suggested he pretty much enjoyed it.“I haven't stopped thinking about it,” he said, taking two steps closer until he was standing right in front of me, towering over me.My stomach twisted. I opened my mouth to say something, anything. But nothing came out.He stepped even closer as one gloved hand came up slo
MIYARA“You’ve been staring at that page for ten minutes,” Isa whispered, her voice a bit high in the quiet of the library. Other students turned towards us— drawing the librarian's attention, a woman with a tight ponytail and serious glasses.I blinked down at the paragraph I’d actually been stuck on for the last few minutes. Isa was looking at the side of my face now, waiting for an explanation.“Spill,” she said, nudging my arm. “What happened at the party?”I flipped the page of the book, my fingers almost trembling. “It was all good,” I started as Isa moved her seat close to mine. “Until someone spiked my drink.”Her hands flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp, her eyes going wide. “Holy shit. Are you okay?”I sighed. “I’m fine. Thankfully I was able to get out of there before I did anything stupid.”“And Jace?”“He offered to send me back but I refused.” The lie rolled smoothly off my tongue as my hand moved to my neck, adjusting my turtleneck shirt.“Who do you think could have d
CADENI watched the cloud drain from her face. Miyara stood frozen in my black shirt, the hem barely covering her thighs. The bite marks on her neck peeked out like my own branding. Her hands shook as she clutched the crumpled photo tighter against her chest, taking two steps back. Her eyes went wide, and she was breathing fast and shallow like she couldn’t get enough air. “Don’t do anything stupid Miyara. Whatever you were looking for,” I looked over her to the open drawer. “You won’t find it.”Her eyes glistened and she sniffed back a sob. She flinched when I reached for her elbow. “Join me downstairs for breakfast in three minutes.” And with that, I clicked shut the door, already on my way to the kitchen.The smell of coffee and pancakes filled the air. I had prepared it some minutes ago and just had to dish it and set the table. Didn’t want my special guest to go hungry after all.After three minutes, a figure loitered behind me, eyes shooting daggers at my back. “Glaring at me w
MIYARAHow I found myself standing in front of a secluded luxury apartment in the middle of nowhere had to be studied. I could hear faint music as I made my way to the entrance.Apparently, Barbara had invited Jace to her party yesterday and Jace in turn had extended the invitation to Isa and me.B
CADENThe second she hung up I was already moving.I’d been here the whole time. How I got in? Didn't take a genius to blend into a party thrown by a bunch of reckless college students. Being a few years older than them made it easier to go unnoticed.I pulled the black cap down over my face as I s
MIYARA’S POVThe steaks hissed and popped behind me, forgotten. The kitchen smelled of burnt meat and danger.Caden’s phone screen glowed between us, freezing me in place. My own voice, breathy, desperate, filthy — spilled from the tiny speaker again and again. “Please… harder… yes, like that…”I
CADEN’S POVThe window frame bit into my palms as I watched the silver-haired prick kill his engine. Watched her stumble. Watched her hesitate—then take his fucking hand.Heat exploded in my chest.Miyara Anderson. My stepsister. My obsession. The one who thought she could slip through my fingers







