Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 111 - Chapitre 120

Sunday. Bistro Cool, Los Angeles, CA.LUMEN TOOK A SIP of her drink and glanced about for the waiter. She still could not believe that she was sitting at a table with Max, of all people."Thanks for meeting me," he said as though he were reading her mind. "I know I didn't deserve you giving me the time of day."She winced and set her glass down, surprised his statement cut so deep. "It's not that...""Lulu?" He leaned his elbows on the table and smiled at her.Why did he have to look so good?The wind ruffled his hair, and he had smile lines around his mouth now instead of the deep scowl creases she was used to.He looked...Happy.She'd never made him look like that."Let's be real?" he said, continuing despite her internal thoughts. "I didn't know how to be the husband you deserved. And I wound up hurting you. A lot. I'm sorry. I don't expect forgiveness or anything. I just... I thought you deserved to hear that from me."She swallowed, but it did nothing to

Monday. Bluhm's Home, Malibu, CA.MAX'S HANDS WERE SWEATING as he walked up the path to the Bluhm's house. This time he'd done his own research after what Lumen had told him. He couldn't believe he'd actually just walked up to this place the other day. While William had been slightly familiar, it was because of his cameo appearance in one of those Sharknado like movies. The guy was basically the most in demand daytime actor. There were plenty of rumors that he'd been hand-picked for a few movies, but had declined them because he didn't want to uproot his family for months at a time.Then throw in Nabanita?Out of curiosity, Max had pulled up footage of the fateful morning the two had met. And Lumen had been right. It was obvious the two had connected there in front of the camera. Other than a few appearances, Nabanita seemed to lead a more private life.He'd downloaded her book and skimmed about half of it. The writing was poignant yet factual. He didn't understand how it ha

Sunday. In route to Brazil.MAX TAPPED HIS FINGERS on the arm rests.The cabin was eerily quiet.Nabanita had boarded the plane and gone straight to the private cabin while her husband was up front acting as co-pilot for the poor guy they'd scrounged up to fly this trip.How the hell had Max gotten himself into this?He could feel the tension coiling tight inside of him.This was all a disaster. He didn't know how Lumen was managing it. She'd been on the phone almost constantly since they'd set a departure time.Given what he knew about the situation, all of this had to be planned, didn't it?The failed break-in hadn't worked. The whole thing had been swept under the rug and those men lost in the system. From what Max understood, the Bluhm's lawyers were getting stonewalled by the Creed of Truth people.And now this.It wasn't right.Lumen paced up the center aisle. Her phone stuck out of her back pocket. Her nervous energy was palpable.Max closed his eyes a

Lumen nodded. They were starting there. "I got a job on the North East side of the city at a gun range.""You...?" He frowned. "I thought you moved home."She snorted. "That would have taken money I didn't have. And what was there for me at home? My parents were already in the middle of a divorce themselves. They hadn't wanted to tell me, like normal. I started working at the range, taught some classes. One of the regular customers offered me a part-time job doing events. I met a few people who became regular clients, took some classes and eventually got scouted by Aegis Group.""You like it?""It's...different. I always thought I'd finish college and do something more normal. Turns out, I'm not half bad at this job. It pays a lot and I have few expenses. How'd you end up owning a boat?""Orion. He... The guy has an eye for people. He took me under his wing and helped me through my shit.""Jennifer's Orion?"Max nodded. "The same.""Hm. I guess I had him wrong."Max s

Sunday. Creed of Truth Sanctuary, Brazil side.BLAIR PRESSED THE COLD cloth to her face. The dermatologist she'd seen had to be smoking something if he thought she'd manage to do all ten steps of the routine he'd recommended in order to get her face ready for TV. Hell, she hadn't needed to do this much work when she'd been trying to launch her singing career.If only she'd been born a man.Men didn't have to worry about things like if her skin was clear or if she was pretty enough.Blair's future would be vastly different if her plumbing had been different. Sonny's male children enjoyed status and comfort. Once they were old enough, they could look forward to a life spent being taken care of so long as they toed the family line. Most of them went to work at the different Creedite centers and outreaches.The girls?They were fodder for the fire.Unlike her siblings, Blair had a wider view of the world. She'd gotten out to some degree. But part of her was tethered here.