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The Key to Freedom

Author: Henry Williams
last update Last Updated: 2025-08-11 14:57:39

Emily

The silver key felt cold against my palm, like touching ice in winter. My heart hammered so hard I was sure James could hear it echoing through the secret room. The photos of those dead girls stared at me from the walls, Rebecca, Maria, Catherine, Isabella, Diane, and Sarah. All of them had once held hope, just like me. All of them were gone.

"Come," James said, his voice smooth as silk but deadly as poison. "Let me show you to your real room."

I wanted to throw the key at his face and run, but where could I go? His guards were everywhere. So I followed him through corridors I'd never seen before, my bare feet silent on the cold marble floors.

"You're different, Emily," he said without looking back. "The others were so... predictable. They cried, they begged, they made promises they couldn't keep. But you? You found my collection in four days. That's either brilliant or reckless."

"Maybe I'm both," I replied, surprising myself with how steady my voice sounded.

He laughed, a sou
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  • SOLD TO THE DEVIL IN SILK   The Price of Passion

    Emily POV The gun pointed at Ethan's head like a silver snake ready to strike. Julian's finger rested on the trigger, and I could see the madness dancing in his sapphire eyes. Just like James. They were all the same underneath their pretty masks."Choose," Julian repeated. "Him or me."My heart hammered against my ribs. Ethan was bleeding, his face pale with pain, but his green eyes stayed locked on mine. Even facing death, he was trying to be brave for me."I choose..." I started, then stopped.In that split second, I remembered something my mother once told me: "When men try to control you with ultimatums, Emily, the answer is always the same. You choose yourself."I lunged forward, grabbing Julian's wrist and shoving his gun toward the ceiling. The weapon fired, the sound deafening in the narrow tunnel."Emily, what are you.." Julian gasped.I twisted his wrist hard, using every self-defense move I'd ever learned. He cursed and dropped the gun, which clattered across the stone flo

  • SOLD TO THE DEVIL IN SILK   Heartbeats in Hiding

    Ethan POV The sound of gunshots echoed behind us as I pulled Emily through the hidden passage. My heart hammered against my ribs, not from fear, but from the weight of her small hand in mine."This way," I whispered, leading her down a narrow stone staircase I'd discovered weeks ago.The underground tunnels beneath James's mansion were old, probably built during Prohibition for smuggling liquor. Now they serve a different kind of contraband, human lives.We stumbled through the darkness, our breathing loud in the confined space. Behind us, I could hear James's guards shouting, their voices getting fainter as we went deeper."Ethan," Emily gasped. "I can't see anything."I stopped and pulled out my phone, using its light to guide us. The tunnel stretched ahead, carved from solid rock and lined with rusty pipes."We're safe for now," I said, but kept moving. Every second counted."Julian's dead." Her voice cracked. "He's really dead.""I know." I squeezed her hand tighter. "I'm sorry."

  • SOLD TO THE DEVIL IN SILK   The Maze of Motives

    Emily POV James held the diamond necklace in one hand and the map in the other. I waited for the explosion, for the rage, for the violence. But instead, he just smiled. It was the coldest smile I'd ever seen. Like winter itself had taken human form."You know what I love about you, Emily?" He walked to the fireplace and tossed the map into the flames. "You never fail to surprise me."The paper curled and blackened, my escape route turning to ash."James, I can explain..""Can you?" He dropped the necklace onto my dresser with a soft clink. "Can you explain how my property ended up in your jewelry box? Can you explain Julian's detailed map of my security?""I didn't steal that necklace. Someone put it there.""Someone." He turned back to me, that terrible smile still playing on his lips. "How convenient. Mystery thieves planting evidence, mysterious lawyers bearing gifts.""It's the truth.""The truth." He tasted the words like wine. "Such a rare commodity in this house."I stood up f

  • SOLD TO THE DEVIL IN SILK   Shadows of Trust

    James POV I watched Emily's face as she clutched that paper behind her back. Her pulse hammered in her throat like a trapped bird, and her cheeks flushed pink with guilt. Beautiful little liar."The paper, Emily," I said again, keeping my voice soft. Gentle. The way I'd learned to speak to frightened animals before breaking them.Julian cleared his throat behind me. "James, really, it's just boring legal..""Shut up." I didn't take my eyes off Emily. "You're not leaving this room until I see what my bride is hiding."Emily's breathing quickened. I could smell her fear, sweet and intoxicating. She was trying so hard to be brave, but her body betrayed every secret."It's nothing," she whispered."Then show me nothing."I stepped closer, close enough to see the tiny gold flecks in her brown eyes. Close enough to feel the heat radiating from her skin. She was terrified, but she still lifted her chin in defiance.God, she was magnificent."Emily." I reached up and stroked her cheek with t

  • SOLD TO THE DEVIL IN SILK   The Traitor's Mask

    Emily POV The gun barrel felt like ice against my temple. James's finger rested on the trigger, and I could see the madness dancing in his dark eyes."One more lie, and your lover bleeds," he whispered.Something inside me snapped. Maybe it was fear, maybe it was rage, or maybe I was just tired of being afraid. But suddenly, I wasn't thinking anymore.I was moving.I slammed my hands against James's chest with everything I had. He stumbled backward, the gun swinging away from my head. "Run!" I screamed to Ethan. "Run now!"Ethan didn't hesitate. He dove through the glass panel he'd come from, rolling into the darkness outside. James roared and pointed the gun toward the opening, but Ethan was already gone."You little.." James grabbed my throat, his fingers digging into my skin."Go ahead," I gasped. "Kill me. Then you'll have nothing left to control."For a moment, I thought he might actually do it. His grip tightened, and black spots danced at the edges of my vision. But then he l

  • SOLD TO THE DEVIL IN SILK   Blood on the Roses

    Emily The letter opener gleamed in James's hand like a silver snake ready to strike. Ethan's throat pressed against the blade, but his green eyes stayed locked on mine. They were calm, accepting. He was ready to die."Ten seconds," James repeated, his voice honey-sweet and deadly."Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Please don't do this.""Nine.""James, I'll do anything..""Eight."Tears streamed down my face. "He means nothing to me!""Seven.""I choose you!" The words ripped from my throat like broken glass. "I choose you, James. Always you.""Six.""Please believe me," I sobbed. "I was confused, scared. But I know now. I know I belong to you.""Five.""I love you." The lie tasted like poison on my tongue, but I said it anyway. "I love you, James Bolton."His counting stopped.The room went silent except for my ragged breathing and the rain still pattering against the windows. James stared at me for what felt like forever, the blade never moving from Ethan's throat."You lo

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