“Why?” she asked confused. “I was in the dressing room all night.” She had been sitting out for some time now. “Consider it your luck.” “You are paying me for free?” June wrinkled her nose. What in hell name is going on? Maeve doesn’t do charity. “Are you going to question me or are you going to take the pay?” Maeve glanced at her. She never rejects a freebie. But, coming from Maeve was too suspicious. Maeve always wanted something in return. Her motto was nothing comes without a price for fucksake. She stared at the envelope lying on the table. “Why?” Maeve’s jaw visibly clenched. But it didn’t stop June from asking her questions. Better safe than sorry. “What is in it for you?” “Take the pay or leave empty-handed June. Don’t question me.” She gritted the words through her clenched teeth. June narrowed her eyes at Maeve. “Nothing shady about this?” “Nothing shady. Take the cash and leave!” Maeve said in a high tone. “I won’t get arrested for this?” Maeve si

With ease, he fit between the two of them, his back to June and his face to the man with a death wish. “Can’t take a hint?” His tone was relatively civil despite his anger. “She doesn’t want to dance with you.” He pinned the man with a dead glare. Apprehension lined the man’s face as he staggered backward clearly drunk. “Who did fuck are you?” He stammered. “Someone who is going to kill you if you don’t leave.” He said menacingly. The man’s throat visibly moved up and down and he licked his lips with obvious panic. Ollie raised an eyebrow at the man’s fidgeting. Ollie was six feet three with beefy muscles so yes the man was scared of him. “Yo man…” He stuttered. “Didn’t know she is your girl. Sorry.” “You should apologize to her not me.” He sidestepped and gestured his hand at June. “Go ahead.” Ollie prompted. “Sorry, girl didn’t know you have a man.” She scoffed loudly before crossing her arm over her chest. “I told you I wasn’t interested twice and it wasn’t because of a

A frosty splash of fear snatched air off her lungs and she felt an instant squeezing hurt in her chest. Her heart leaped like a wild stag in her throat, sweeping a faint dizziness over her. She gasped, trying to scrape in any oxygen she could get due as an ache tightened her chest. The voices around her blared in high frequency making her head pound heavy. Her thought scrambled a sentence. —Aiden and Amy are with the loan shark. Aiden and Amy are with the loan shark—Oh, God. Oh, God. She’d done all they asked her to do. She’d paid the debt in full even though she wasn’t owing them. She’d even paid the interest with no complaint because she didn’t want to have anything to do with them. Because she didn’t want them to come for the twins. So what could they possibly want from her? Or her siblings? A gale assailed her, threatening to sweep her off her feet. She felt her leg wobble beneath her before fumbling, leading her straight to the floor. A hand caught her around the waist be

As Ollie strode into Max’s office, he reclined into his office chair, accessing him with a measured gaze as if trying to read through him. “A stare is the only pleasantry I deserve?” Ollie stated. Both of them had gotten so busy they couldn’t meet up for their routine golf session regularly. He was busy with his ongoing resort project in France, Max just got promoted to Attorney general, the youngest the state had known yet. Ava was busy with her new film project, Logan was busy being Logan—He is more of going with the flow, letting life lead him, never taken anything seriously, not even his life—. “Why are you here?” Max swiveled the chair closer to the desk, his gaze fixed on Ollie.“That isn’t polite to say to a visitor.” “I know you aren’t here because you miss me so get straight to the point.” Ollie wiggled the wrapper bag in his hands. “Here with your congratulatory gift. I heard you got promoted.” Max sighed, massaging his temple. “I got promoted one month ago.” “Well,

His mind swirled in a chaotic dance of confusion as he made his way to June. This was the first time he wasn’t elated about the rapid progression of a business deal. He should be excited that the deal was progressing and David was showing positive responses. Instead, he felt sullen. The sooner the deal got finalized, the sooner he had to let June go and he didn’t want that. He wanted to keep her by his side. He weaved through the crowd with his head held high, his feet taking long strides in a bid to avoid any stops. He was tired of useless conversation that led nowhere. Though some were useful information, the majority held no ounce of usefulness. His lips curled into a gradual smile, captivated by the sight of June’s flowing brown hair. She looked so beautiful, he couldn’t help himself earlier. If David hadn’t interrupted he wouldn’t have stopped and his hand would still be exploring her, trying to take everything he could. Memorizing the fine lines of her body. Printing the sou