Darius tapped his fingers lightly against the leather steering wheel, his gaze momentarily drifting to the horizon before returning to the phone in his hand.The familiar voice on the other end of the line grounded him, carrying both the calm confidence and the gravity of their shared mission.โYouโre sure about this approach?โ Darius asked, his tone steady yet probing, a hint of concern underlying his words.โGeraldโs empire is a house of cards,โ Alexander replied without hesitation. โAll we need is Marcus to show us where the foundation lies. Once we hit that weak point, the whole thing will come crashing down. I need to be back in my position before that happens.โA heavy pause followed, one that seemed to speak volumes between them. It was the kind of silence born from years of working together, where words often felt unnecessary.โI trust your instincts, Blake,โ Darius said finally, his voice carrying the weight of his faith in Alexanderโs judgment. โJust make sure you watch your
Meanwhile, Sarah, her adrenaline still pumping, smirked to herself as she sped through the city streets.She knew sheโd made a statement, and the satisfaction of seeing them topple like dominoes was enough to lighten her mood, at least for the moment.โThatโs for thinking you can mess with me,โ she muttered under her breath, the wind whipping through her hair.As Sarah sped past yet another red light, she couldnโt help but feel a rebellious thrill coursing through her veins.The city blurred around her, the McLaren roaring like it owned the streets.By the time she reached the Blake residence, her heart was pounding, not from fear but from exhilaration.Pulling into the driveway, she stepped out, her heels clicking on the stone path as guards hurried to retrieve her bags from the car.But her confidence wavered the moment she stepped into the hall.Alexander was home. And not just home, he was seated on one of the couches, his sharp eyes focused on his phone, a stern faced traffic off
Earlier that day, Alexanderโs mind was already abuzz with plans as he exited the underground base where Marcus was being held.His phone buzzed in his pocket just as he was sliding into the backseat of his car.Pulling it out, he noticed a message from his head of security.Security Alert: "Sir, weโve identified something unusual about Mrs. Blakeโs activity today. A fuller report is attached."Alexander frowned, quickly opening the attachment.The report detailed Sarahโs unusual behavior throughout the day, speeding through the city in his Sapphire blue McLaren, blowing past red lights, and the most surprising revelation of all: she had been at the underground racing scene years ago.The man had overheard Sarah and Seb's conversation.The next line of the report made his pulse quicken: "Based on her movements and the reactions of Seb, it appears that Mrs. Blake is none other than Sparrow, the underground street racer."For a moment, Alexander stared at his phone, utterly still.The wo
Alexander shut his phone off and slipped it back into his pocket, exhaling slowly.His mind was still racing with everything heโd learned, but right now, there was something else he needed to handle, Sarah.She had conveniently feigned feeling under the weather earlier, right after spotting the police officer in the hall.She hadnโt been sick.She had been hiding.Suppressing a smirk, Alexander climbed the stairs, his steps steady and deliberate.He wasnโt angry, if anything, he was impressed.She had managed to outmaneuver him for years without him even realizing it. But that didnโt mean heโd let her off the hook so easily.Reaching their bedroom door, he pushed it open without knocking.Sarah was curled up in bed, the blankets pulled over her, the dim glow of a bedside lamp casting soft shadows across the room.She didnโt react immediately, but he knew she was awake.Alexander leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on her.โSo,โ he said casually, โyouโre feeling
Sarah tilted her head, her smirk widening. โAre you afraid Iโll leave you in the dust, Mr. Blake?โAlexander let out a low chuckle. โAfraid? No.โ His gaze flickered over her, amused and predatory. โBut I do love watching you try.โSarah threw the blankets off, standing up in one smooth motion. โThen letโs go,โ she said, heading straight for the door.Alexander raised a brow. โRight now?โShe glanced over her shoulder. โYou backing out already?โHis lips curled into a slow smirk. โCareful, Sparrow. Youโre getting cocky.โSarah shrugged, eyes gleaming with mischief. โYouโd be too if you knew you were going to win.โAlexander huffed a quiet laugh and shook his head, pushing himself up from the bed. โLetโs see if you can back up that mouth of yours.โThey made their way downstairs, the tension between them a mix of challenge and amusement.The moment they entered the garage, Sarah beelined for the sapphire blue McLaren she had driven earlier.Alexander watched her, amused. โDidnโt even he
The engines purred like caged beasts, vibrating through Sarahโs bones as she tightened her grip on the steering wheel.The adrenaline thrumming beneath her skin was intoxicating, familiar.Sheโd spent years trying to forget this feeling, this wild, unrestrained rush of power, but now, with Alexanderโs voice in her ear and his car beside hers, she embraced it like an old lover.Through the comms, his voice was all smooth arrogance. โYou sure you donโt want a head start, Sparrow? Might help take the sting off when you lose.โSarah scoffed, rolling her shoulders. โThatโs adorable. You really think you stand a chance against me?โAlexander chuckled. โConfidence is sexy. But overconfidence? Dangerous.โShe grinned, revving the McLarenโs engine in response. โWouldnโt be any fun if it wasnโt.โThe floodlights bathed the stretch of road in a harsh glow, cutting through the dark sky.Out here, on Alexanderโs private land, there were no interruptions, no prying eyes, just the vast, open road an
Alexander stilled for half a second. Then he groaned low in his throat, his hands coming up to grip her waist, pulling her flush against him.The heat between them was instant, undeniable.His lips were demanding, fierce, and she met him with equal intensity.She could feel the adrenaline still thrumming in his body, matching her own.He deepened the kiss, one hand tangling in her hair while the other anchored her against him.It was wild, consuming, like the race itself, except this was a different kind of battle.Sarah gasped as he pressed her back against the car, his mouth trailing down to her jaw, then lower, his breath hot against her skin.Damn him.She wasnโt supposed to lose control like this.She tugged at his collar, nipping his bottom lip before whispering against his mouth, โStill think you couldโve won?โAlexander chuckled, low and rough, his fingers digging into her waist. โI think I won something better.โSarah was about to retort when something in the air shifted.The
Gerald sat in his dimly lit study, the air thick with the scent of aged whiskey and the distant hum of security monitors flickering across the wall.His fingers drummed against the mahogany desk, his mind racing as the weight of the latest news settled over him like an iron shroud.Marcus was gone.Not just missing. Taken.And if there was one thing Gerald knew with certainty, it was that his nephew, Alexander Blake, had him.The confirmation had come through one of his informants buried deep within the underground network.A whisper.A hint.But it was enough.Alexander had been moving in the shadows for weeks, making plays that Gerald had dismissed as mere provocations. But now, the game had shifted.His nephew was no longer circling like a wolf waiting for the right moment to strike, he had drawn blood. And that meant war.Gerald exhaled sharply and leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the screens before him.His estate was a fortress, a behemoth of steel and
The sun was dipping low over the horizon, casting a rich, molten gold sheen across the endless stretch of cerulean water surrounding the private island. Waves lapped lazily at the pristine white shores, and the sweet scent of tropical blooms filled the salt heavy breeze. Four years had passed since the darkness that had almost swallowed them whole. Four years since Sarah had been ripped from Alexanderโs arms and nearly broken beyond recognition. Four years since Alexander had been confined to a wheelchair, only to fight tooth and nail to walk again, fueled by sheer willpower, physical therapy, and Sarahโs unyielding belief in him. And today, today was a celebration not just of survival, but of life. Laughter rang out from the sprawling beachfront villa, decorated with colorful ribbons, balloons, and flowers that spilled over tables heavy with food and gifts. Small hands clapped excitedly as the Blake twins, three year old terrors with grins that could melt glaciers, chased each
Geraldโs world had flipped, literally and figuratively.The scent of leaking gasoline still clung to his shredded suit.His once polished shoes were coated in blood and gravel, and his jaw ached with every breath he took.The crash had thrown him like a ragdoll, flinging his body into a ditch after his vehicle, tires blown out from a desperate chase, had careened off the hillside road.Heโd blacked out for a moment. Maybe more.But when he came to, it wasnโt mercy that greeted him.It was Darius.Heโd heard the boots crunching over leaves and dirt long before the shadows finally stretched toward him.Then came the firm grip of gloved hands dragging his broken form to a clearing, rifles trained on him, and a half circle of men in black combat gear standing like a wall of death.And at the center of it all, Darius.Pristine as ever, yet colder than a winter grave.Darius stood tall, hands behind his back, his expression unreadable as he stared down at the bloodied man in front of him.G
Sarah turned slowly to Alexander, her hand still pressed to her mouth. โWeโreโฆ weโre going to have a baby.โHis eyes glistened with fresh tears, shock, joy, fear, all colliding in one single breath.He reached out to cradle her face with both hands, his broken leg momentarily forgotten.A baby.A child made from chaos and pain, love and survival.โI donโt deserve this,โ he whispered hoarsely. โNot after everything Iโve done. Not after I almost lost you.โโYou didnโt lose me,โ she whispered back. โAnd you wonโt. Not now. Not ever.โHe kissed her forehead, resting there for a long moment, his tears soaking into her hair. โI swear Iโll protect both of you. Even if I canโt walk. Even if I have to crawl to the ends of the earth, Sarah.โShe laughed through her tears, arms wrapping around him tighter than ever. โThen weโll crawl together. And when weโre readyโฆ weโll run.โThey held each other in the stillness of that room, at the beginning of something even greater.A heartbeat they hadnโt
Sarah stayed curled in Alexanderโs arms for a long moment, breathing him in like he was the only tether keeping her from floating away.His hand cradled the back of her head, his chest rising and falling in unsteady waves as if he still couldnโt believe she was real, that she was here.But then her eyes drifted down.Her gaze locked on the white sheets, crumpled and slightly lifted around his lower half.Something tugged at her memory, the shot.The sharp crack of a bullet.The sight of him falling behind her as she ran, screaming his name. Her stomach twisted.She leaned back slightly, her hand moving instinctively to the edge of the blanket, brushing against the thick padding of a cast beneath.Her voice was soft. โYou were shotโฆ I rememberโฆ I...โAlexander caught her hand gently, pressing it to his lips. โItโs okay. Iโm here.โBut Sarahโs heart had already begun to race again. โYou were limpingโฆ and I sawโฆ but I didnโt know it was this bad.โ Her eyes darted toward the crutches now
The first thing Sarah registered was the scent of antiseptic, clean, sharp, and nauseating.Then came the ache. Deep in her bones. In her chest. In the marrow of her soul.She stirred, her fingers twitching over crisp hospital sheets as her body shifted ever so slightly, and her mind scrambled to catch up.She wasnโt tied down. She wasnโt cold anymore. She wasnโt in that dark room. That house. Thatโฆ nightmare.She was safe.Orโฆ something like it.Her eyes fluttered open slowly, lashes damp from tears she hadnโt even known sheโd been crying.The ceiling was a sterile white blur. The walls hummed faintly with distant activity, soft footfalls, medical monitors, the low murmur of conversation somewhere outside the door.But none of it mattered.Because he wasnโt there.And without him, none of this felt real.Her lips parted, cracked and dry, and she tried to speak. Tried to push out the name that had lived on the edge of every prayer she'd whispered during captivity.It came out broken a
Alexander turned his head, his eyes bloodshot and glistening. โIโll be a burden now. Sheโll never say it, but Iโll see it in her eyes. Pity. Guilt. Iโd rather she hate me than pity me.โโSheโs not that kind of woman,โ Darius said firmly.A pause. Then Alexander swallowed hard and asked the question that had been clawing at him since the moment the doctor said the word paralysis.โWhat if she staysโฆ just because she thinks she owes me?โDariusโs brow furrowed. โThen you remind her what you both have been through. Remind her who the hell you are. And what you mean to each other.โSilence again.Then Alexander leaned back against the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. โGerald got away.โDariusโs expression hardened. โBarely. One of my men put a tracker on his vehicle before he escaped. Victoria got caught in the crossfire. Gerald used her,โ Darius replied coldly. โHe doesnโt care who dies as long as he gets what he wants.โAlexanderโs jaw clenched. โThen weโll burn every last shadow h
The sterile beep of Alexanderโs heart monitor filled the hospital room like a metronome, steady and soft. The worst had passed, so the doctors said. He had survived the bullets, the blood loss, the surgery. He had defied death.But outside the room, just as Darius turned to check on Sarah again, something in her expression shifted.Relief.That was the first thing he saw.A full bodied, all consuming relief that weakened her spine, dulled her eyes, and uncoiled every taut muscle that had kept her upright through pain, fear, and heartbreak.Then she crumpled.โSarah...!โ Darius lunged forward and caught her just before her knees slammed into the polished floor.Her body was limp in his arms, barely conscious, her breathing shallow and unsteady. Her bloodied hands slipped against his shirt as he pulled her close, his voice sharp and commanding as he yelled over his shoulder, โGet a doctor! Now!โWithin seconds, nurses flooded the corridor. A gurney was wheeled over, and Darius laid her d
The woman heโd secretly crushed on since the first night he saved her bleeding and defiant.โHoly shit,โ he muttered.But she was already in the driverโs seat.The moment her fingers wrapped around the wheel, she changed. Her spine straightened. Her breath slowed. The fear didnโt vanish, but it sharpened, fused into her bones like steel.And when her foot hit the gas, the tires screamed their fury into the night.The SUV became a blur under her hands.Trees melted past them. Headlights glared like ghosts. The world narrowed to instinct and motion.Sarah didnโt flinch when they nearly sideswiped a truck. She didnโt panic when the back tires fishtailed across loose gravel. She was in it.. back.Back to the part of herself sheโd buried when she married into the Blake family.Back to Sparrow.โHang on,โ she said under her breath, glancing at Alexander in the mirror, his head resting in Dariusโs lap as the man tried to stop the bleeding.โHeโs fading,โ Darius warned. โWeโve got fifteen min
The air turned electric as Dariusโs boots pounded the forest floor, his rifle cradled tight against his shoulder. His men moved ahead of him like shadows, silent, fast, lethal.Their coordinated breaths were drowned out by the distant echoes of gunfire erupting from the estate.Alexander was still fighting.He was alive.But for how long?โAlpha to all units,โ Darius growled into his earpiece, โentry on my mark. Hostile count is high. Primary objective, get Alexander out alive. Secondary level anyone who tries to stop us.โโCopy that,โ came a chorus of calm, battle hardened voices.Behind him, the night swallowed his words.But not all of it.He turned briefly, his sharp gaze locking onto Sarah, who stood beside the black SUV Darius had arrived in. Her body trembled, her eyes red from tears, but she had not collapsed.She hadnโt fallen apart.And that, Darius admired deeply.โCan you drive?โ he asked, voice hard but not unkind.Sarah blinked, startled. โWhat?โโIf this goes south, weโ