Aryn“Marcus—” I started, but before I could even think, he was on his feet.He grabbed me by the wrist so hard I thought he might snap it.“Shit—Marcus, let me go!” I hissed, twisting against his grip.He didn’t even look at me. His dark eyes were fixed on the door, that cold, calculating glint shining like a damn blade. Without saying a word, he dragged me deeper into the suite, past the stupid designer armchairs and glossy marble counters, until we were in the bedroom.“What the fuck are you doing?!” I yanked at his hand, but he pushed me forward, right up against the huge bed.He didn’t answer at first. Instead, he started pulling at the zipper of my dress.“Marcus!” I slapped his hands away, my voice sharp and shaking. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”He leaned close, his breath hot against my neck, his fingers still fumbling at the back of my dress. “It’s either you help me, or I fucking do it myself,” he growled into my ear.I froze.“What... help you? What the fuck d
Aryn"What the fuck are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice filled with an edge of pure exhaustion. My hand, still gripping the knife, instinctively dropped to my side, the blade pointing uselessly at the plush carpet. It was a reflex, a futile attempt to appear less armed, as if he hadn't already seen it.He simply smiled, a slow, familiar curve of his lips. He raised the crystal flute to his mouth, taking another deliberate sip, his eyes never leaving mine. The clinking of the ice in the bucket was the only sound in the suite, increasing the tension. He seemed amused by my surprise.My gaze flickered around the room. The door was still ajar, a sliver of the brightly lit hallway visible. I slammed it shut with my foot, the heavy wood thudding against the frame. The lock clicked into place with a satisfying finality, as if I could somehow create a barrier between myself and the world outside.I turned back to him, my eyes narrowed, scrutinizing every inch of his perfectly composed f
Lorenzo "What do you mean, you can't find her?" My voice was a low growl, barely controlled, but the man on the other end knew better than to mistake it for calm. He knew the fury beneath was looking for a way out."Boss, we've checked every exit, every camera feed. She just… vanished. Like a ghost," the voice stammered, clearly terrified. "One minute she was on there in the hotel, the next… nothing. We've got men sweeping the surrounding blocks, checking every alley, every parked car."A ghost. That's exactly what she was. A goddamn phantom, slipping through my fingers like smoke. My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth would crack. "She didn't vanish, you incompetent fucks," I snarled, pacing the plush carpet of my penthouse suite. "She left. And she left because you weren't good enough to stop her."I slammed the phone down, the sound echoing in the opulent silence of the room. My chest heaved, a raw, burning sensation spreading through me. Aryn. That little bitch. I had been p
Aryn What the fuck was he doing here?My hand, without conscious thought, darted into the small backpack slung over my shoulder. My fingers closed around the cold, hard handle of the utility knife I'd bought at the sporting goods store, a last-minute, desperate impulse purchase. It wasn't a combat knife, just a simple, sharp blade meant for opening boxes or cutting rope, but in that moment, it felt like my only weapon against the terror that was Antonio.I pulled it out, the dull gleam of the blade barely visible in the faint light, and pointed it at him, my hand trembling despite my best efforts to steady it. "Who the fuck are you to me?" I spat, my voice a raw whisper, laced with a fury that surprised even me. "And why the hell are you here? What do you want?"He didn't flinch. Not a muscle in his face moved. He just stood there, a dark silhouette against the distant city glow, his eyes, I knew, boring into mine. "Aryn, Aryn," he said, a sigh in his tone, as if he were disappointed
ArynThe concierge, a perfectly polite woman with a voice smoother than silk, rattled off directions to a high-end mall not too far away. A car was arranged, a sleek black sedan that pulled up to the hotel's entrance minutes later. I stepped out, feeling a strange mix of fear and defiance. Lorenzo’s territory. His car. His money. This was a dangerous game I was playing. But I had no choice.The mall was a filled with people who walked in and out of designer stores. I moved quickly, ignoring the expensive window displays, my mind focused on my mission. I found a sporting goods store and picked up a dark grey hoodie, some black athletic pants, and a pair of lightweight, dark gloves. Nothing flashy, nothing that would stand out. I also grabbed a simple black baseball cap. It wasn't much, but it was enough to obscure my face if I kept my head down.Next, I needed a new phone, one that couldn't be traced back to Lorenzo. I found a small electronics store, purchased a cheap burner phone wit
ArynMy heart beat frantically against my ribs, as a sudden surge of hope and utter disbelief grew. Arya. It had to be her. Who else could it be? I didn't wait, didn't think. I dropped the cash on the counter and bolted, ignoring the clerk's startled yelp."Arya!" I screamed, my voice raw, already halfway across the lobby. "Arya, wait!"She turned, her eyes wide, a flicker of something unreadable in their green depths – surprise, maybe fear. For a split second, she looked as stunned as I felt. But then, she moved. Fast. Too fast. She spun around and practically sprinted for the revolving doors, pushing through them with a panicked energy I knew too well. "No! Arya, come back!" I yelled, chasing after her, my sore thighs screaming with every stride. "Please! It's me, Aryn!"I burst out onto the sidewalk, gasping for breath. She was already half a block away, weaving through the sparse early morning foot traffic, a blur of auburn hair and hurried movement. The street was starting to wa